Princes Park BMX Skatepark

BASIC INFORMATION

Case study date: December 2006

Local authority in which project based: Salford

Date started: Initiative started in 2003, project opened 2005

End date if not ongoing: July 2005

Type of organisation: statutory

Brief description, including aims and objectives:

Prince’s Park BMX Skate Park was formally opened in July 2005, following two years’ work by young people, supported by an area youth worker, to secure this facility as part of a community initiative to improve the park. Local young people had already identified the need for a BMX skate park, and formed the BMX Bandits to achieve this. They consulted with other young people, developed funding bids, worked with Environmental Services and worked with designers and artists on the park’s design and construction and additional artwork. Since its opening, the park has been used constantly. It is now the main meeting point for young people and has helped improve relationships between young people and other residents.

Collaboration:

Parks and Open Spaces group steering group, formed as a sub-group of Community Committee, involved a range of professionals (including neighbourhood manager – the chair, police officer, community development officer, health development officer, environmental services, sports development worker, area youth worker, and Community Technical Aid Centre) and local residents. This joint working led to the establishment of two groups: BMX Bandits and Friends of Princes Park, which joined the steering group.

Funding:

Big Lottery Fund (New Opportunities Fund) grant of £147,000 including maintenance budget. Young people raised a total of £23,000. £3,500 funding for two related projects, to create artwork for the ramps and to document the opening of the Bike Park, was provided by Salford Arts Development Service.

Staffing:

Project supported by one full-time area youth worker and one full-time community health worker. A part-time arts officer supported the arts work from January 2005 onwards.

NATURE OF PROVISION

Which groups of young people does the project work with?

The core group involved around 12 local boys aged 13 to 15 – all keen BMX riders.

How was the need for the project identified?

Irlam and Cadishead is located in the south west of Salford. It is surrounded by rural land isolating it from the rest of the city. Despite having a high proportion of young people under 16, there are few social facilities for 12 to 18-year olds. There are pockets of deprivation, and issues concerning anti-social behaviour.

The local community identified the improvement of the park as a priority in the 2001 Community Action Plan. It had become run down and there was a strong feeling that it should once again become the ‘hub’ of the community. The Community Committee set up a Parks and Open Spaces subgroup to develop a coordinated approach to improve parks in the area.

Separately, young people, mainly pupils from Irlam and Cadishead Community High School, had already identified the need for a BMX Skate Park and had started a campaign to secure funding and an appropriate site. They approached the local community health worker, neighbourhood manager and area youth worker, who offered their support.

How do young people become involved? What, if any, commitment do you ask for?

Young people became involved on a voluntary basis and were invited along to a Parks and Open Spaces meeting following their approach to local workers. Their ongoing involvement required them to consult with peers and feed back views on the development of the skatepark on a regular basis.

What are the main approaches used and activities offered?

During the two years it took to secure the skatepark, young people undertook a range of activities, supported by the area youth worker. They formed themselves into the BMX Bandits, a group with its own constitution, in 2003. Group members joined the Parks and Open Spaces group, and were trained with adult members in consultation approaches. They then consulted local young people, though distributing flyers and running focus groups and helped evaluate the findings of the consultation. They made regular reports to the Community Committee, and raised a total of £23,000 for the project themselves, as well as helping to put together an application to the Big Lottery Fund.

Environmental Services worked closely with the group on design ideas and planning regulations, and also oversaw the construction process.

While negotiations were taking place on the location of the skatepark, the Bandits visited other sites in the country, and after extensive research they commissioned Clever Curves to build the ramps. The team from Clever Curves traveled from the south of England and lived in a caravan on site, not only building the ramps but also acting as unofficial security.

Throughout the eight weeks’ building work, young people took great interest in their new park, including occasionally ‘riding the ramps’. High School pupils had also chosen to design and manufacture their own ramp as part of GCSE Design and Technology and their increased knowledge and practical skills helped to make this project a successful partnership with Clever Curves.

The BMX Bandits held the grand opening of the BMX Skatepark in July 2005. This was a big community celebration with the Bandits riding through the Red Ribbon themselves. The feelings of people on the day were documented through a piece of artwork which now hangs in the Edge Youth Centre. Further artwork has been created under the instruction of the young people to turn the massive ramps into a fantastical castle. It was felt that this was the best way to create an arts feature that would both complement the skatepark and be in keeping with the rest of the public park and appeal to all those that use it. The young people chose an experienced skate park artist to complete this commission.

How are young people involved in shaping the project/programme?

The Bandits have been involved in all stages of the project, from the initial ideas to continuing development of the site, including fundraising, budgeting, design and negotiation. They also made regular presentations to Community Committee, organised community celebrations at the opening of the skatepark and undertook a monitoring role once the park was opened.

OUTCOMES OF WORK

Does the project contribute to the five Every Child Matters outcomes for young people? If so, which and how?

Making a positive contribution: the Bandits have shown great commitment to the project, which has created a local focus for positive activities and helped reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Being healthy: the skatepark provides an opportunity for young people to take part in exercise in a safe environment.

What skills do young people gain through their involvement in the project?

Young people have gained a range of skills including planning, consultation, fundraising, budgeting, art and design, presentations.

How are young people's progress and achievements measured and recorded? Please include details of any accreditation offered.

No formal accreditation processes were available for use.

What has changed for other young people, organisations or the wider community as a result of the project?

The Parks and Open Spaces group has been driven by a shared vision for the local area, and has resulted in positive intergenerational work. Since its opening in 2005, the BMX Park has been used non–stop. Crime and anti-social behaviour have reduced, and the park has become the main meeting point for young people to take part in constructive activities. Other local residents have come to appreciate the skills and expertise of the riders. One parent commented: ‘This has really brought the community together and is the best thing that has happened in the district for a long time’.

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

How is the project evaluated and by whom?

Feedback to the local Community Committee took place on a regular basis.

Monitoring forms were submitted to the appropriate funding bodies.

What are the findings of any evaluations (including Ofsted inspections) to date?

Irlam and Cadishead Parks and Open Spaces Group won Salford City Council’s Community and Social Care Award, in the ‘delivering the pledges category’. The BMX Ramps Art Project won a Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award.

What has worked well and why?

The Parks and Open Spaces group followed a simple approach of:

Consult and involve the community, including children and young people;
Develop a vision and action plan;
Keep the community informed;
Deliver what has been promised;
Celebrate achievements; and
Learn together.

Investing in young people has been key to the regeneration process.

What has been difficult and why?

The location of the BMX park initially caused difficulties, although the group’s commitment to improving the area and involving young people ensured that these were overcome. Objections were raised to the initial two sites identified. While local people supported the development of the park, they felt that these sites were too close to housing. Pollution Control also advised against it. The police wanted the park to be in sight of the main road and to be accessible to the emergency services should they be needed. After a lengthy consultation process, the Community Committee endorsed a site close to Irlam Pool.

PARTNERSHIP AND STRATEGIC IMPACT

What specific experience and expertise does your project bring to partnership work?

A mechanism for ensuring the voice of young people/potential users of the skate park are heard in the decision-making process, building the necessary relationships to facilitate their involvement and advocating on their behalf.

Has this partnership resulted in greater collaboration or increased understanding between partners? If so, how?

The involvement of local people and workers from so many professional backgrounds has produced a cross-fertilisation of skills, broadened everybody’s knowledge base and highlighted the benefits of joint working.

Have you experienced any particular difficulties in partnership working?

The main difficulties centred around getting the partnership to realise the validity of young people’s views on key issues such as the location of the park and materials used.

In a lot of cases the professionals tried to propose their own ideas as they felt the young people did not understand e.g. health and safety.

Do you consider this project to be innovative?

The young people were involved in all aspects of the project. They were consulted on the whole process from planning the ramps to fundraising. They were able to discuss their ideas with professionals and to be listened to. The Community Committee provided local strategic support.

How do you disseminate the learning from the project?

The local press and the Community Committee newsletter provided updates on progress. Local committee meetings provided workers with opportunities to share good practice amongst the partnership. Close links with the school offered opportunities to share progress on the BMX Bandits’ role and promote positive activities. One local MA student produced a video game based on the BMX Bandits’ role in setting up the park. The group made a presentation to Oldham MBC as part of Neighbourhood Works Training Programme.

Has the learning from this work influenced wider organisational/service strategies?

Locally and within the City Council the park continues to be used as an example of good practice, particularly the importance of involving young people in the decision making process – comparisons have been drawn with other similar projects, where lack of consultation has resulted in lack of ownership by young people and problems with vandalism or other forms of anti-social behaviour.

What plans do you have to sustain/develop this work?

The park is now a key location for the detached youth work team to continue building relationships with young people in the area. The young people feed back to youth workers any ideas they have for the park, for instance improving drainage and lighting.

CONTACT DETAILS

Ursula Sossalla-Iredale, Irlam Council Offices, Neighbourhood Management Team, Astley Road, Irlam, Salford M44 5LL.

Tel. 0161 606 6778. Fax 0161 777 6377.
E-mail: Ursula.sossalla-iredale@salford.gov.uk
Website: http://www.salford.gov.uk/