It has been over a year since the corona virus pandemic struck the U.K and the first lockdown was brought in to effect in England.

When the lockdown was first brought in schools were not prepared for this situation and the voucher scheme for children who receive free school dinners was not in place.  The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre immediately put into place a system for our children and young people to access a daily packed lunch, this service has run through the first lockdown, and has continued throughout the subsequent lockdowns, providing on average 70 meals a day at the peak, even outside of the lockdowns the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre Covid-19 response has continued to deliver weekly food hampers to support the lock community. As we as a community come out of lock down and more services are opening back up the Brunswick has taken the decision to end the support we currently offer in terms of daily packed lunches and weekly food hampers from Friday 2nd April 2021, moving to more target support programme working with specific families who have been identified.

At the Brunswick we have always believed in working together with other organisations so that we can achieve more and offer the best possible support to the community.  We have built a network of organisations including Holiday Hunger, who made sandwiches for us, Venus who we refer to and vice versa for support and foodstuffs, as well as a number of community centres so that when we got large donations we could share with others in Sefton. By pulling together in this way and support each other we were able to maximise the impact and support we could offer.

Over the past year the Steve Morgan Foundation and National Lottery has supported the Brunswick which has meant that we intern have been able to support our community through delivery of activities for young people, transport for key workers, and sourcing food and materials for care packages, and rolling out health and wellbeing sessions including art and music sessions and homework support. The 23 foundation has also supported the Brunswick through trying to source donations of food,  we have also received some funding from a number of local and national funders such as Community Foundation for Merseyside, LCares, Lethersellers and Cash4kids to help the Brunswick to purchase food and pay for some sessional workers to come in and support us with the logistics.  This funding has enabled us to:

• Provide 10460 lunches
• Deliver 620 hot evening meals
• Deliver 15.26 food hampers
• Provide 7.0 tonnes of food to supplement meals
• Provide £980.00 ASDA vouchers
• Provide £3,600.00 in vouchers towards school uniforms
• Provide £2,500.00 worth of Christmas Gift to children, young people and families

In addition to the supported needed around food, there has been and remains a  growing need to support the wellbeing of young people and the wider community, we have been providing information and support to our young people and the community through::

Advice and Information by phone and social media to individual young people,

Contacting families directly offering them support for their children and young people (ie access to print for homework and free lunches)

Developing a programme of youth activities via social media for both our junior and senior youth club to maintain relationship and offer families support.

Loan of tablets to support at home learning.

Working in partnership with Marie Clarke well-being centre providing food and vouchers

Working in partnership with Merseyside Police in providing outreach workers to encourage large groups of young people to self-isolate and value social distancing.

Supporting young careers with shopping and other essential items.

Providing space for young careers to support their health and well being

Maximising the Brunswick site including the garden area in providing resources to support young people’s anxiety issues

Providing 12 cycles to key workers

Offering in person support inline with national rules and guidance such as social distanced homework club, young ambassadors, outreach, and activities to promote health and wellbeing.

During the Halloween and Christmas periods, the Brunswick developed and delivered socially distanced and safe experiences for local children, young people, and families.

Moving forward

The Brunswick is constantly assessing and planning what activities and programmes we can roll out in line with government guidelines and restrictions.

As we plan for further loosing of the current restrictions our priority will be to continue to support our members and wider community in a safe way.  Limited centre based sessions are currently being delivered with our Young Ambassadors programme and year 7 home work club, as well as teams doing outreach on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with the stay at home order being lifted.

The next milestone in the loosing of restriction as we move out of lockdown will be on the 12th April, the Brunswick is currently drawing up plans to deliver move centre based session, with sessions being limited to year group bubbles, details of this will be confirmed and shared through social media, so make sure you are following the @the_brunny on instagram and twitter, and the Brunswick Youth and Community centre on facebook to stay up to date.

As for the future, we will have a lot of work to do to re-engage some of our young people in positive activities and support them to make positive choices, as part of our ongoing commitment to divert young people away from engaging with gangs and the risks associated with this.

As we move out of lockdown and transition through this pandemic young people will need our support and guidance more than ever, especially if they have had to deal with mental health issues, ill health, or bereavement.

Other programmes being planned include an expanded homework club delivered by qualified teachers supporting young people who have had their learning negatively impacted by Covid-19, more exciting development of our community garden, as well as developing more whole family focused projects to support our community.

Stay up to date

To stay up to date with what the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre is doing please follow our social media pages

Twitter: @the_brunny

Facebook: @brunswickycc

Instagram: @the_brunny

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day 2019

One of our main fundraising events of the year is the Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day, held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, in September.

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day will take place for the 18^th year on Friday 20^th September, just 11 days after the Walker Cup takes place on the famous links. The event attracts teams from all over the North West, and beyond, to compete for the Michael Marshall Memorial Trophy and enjoy the Gala Prizegiving dinner in the famous clubroom afterwards.

It provides one of the few opportunities for non-members to play one of the world’s leading links courses, on which the Open Championship has been played on twelve occasions, most recently in 2014, when Rory McIlroy triumphed, and is scheduled to return for the thirteenth time in 2022.

The event takes the form of teams of 4 in a 4-ball format contesting the Michael Memorial Golf Day trophy, followed by dinner in the famous clubroom overlooking the course.

Team places are limited, so if you would like to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bobby Jones, Peter Thomson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and enter a team, sponsor an on-course competition or otherwise support the event, please contact Brian Roberts at; bra@btconnect.com or on 07887 678160.

Eight Young People enrolled in the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre Young Apprentice Scheme recently visited Vinje, Norway, representing the Centre and building upon the strong international partnership with our friends in Norway.

The young people took part in a packed programme of activities and cultural exchanges, which included visiting the heavy water plant and museum in Telemark to learn about  how resistance fighters in Norway managed to sabotage the plant, which was being used by the Nazis to produce heavy water, a key element in the production of nuclear weapons, the resistance fighters managed to damage the plant and halt the German Nuclear weapons project during their occupation of Norway in World War Two.

The young people laid a wreath in remembrance of the resistance fighters who risked everything to frustrated the German nuclear ambitions.

The young people also visited a Husky team, learning about their traditional role in Norwegian life and how they still play a role in the culture today. 

The group was also invited for a tour of the town hall, and had the chance to meet and talk with the Mayor and council members as well as meeting with community and business leaders, learning more about the culture and sharing their views and insights in to our culture.

A highlight from the group was learning how to ski from our Norwegian friends, after a few slips and falls the group soon found their feet.  This trip help to solidify the bonds of friendship developed with our partners in Norway, and gave the young people a chance to learn about another culture whilst also sharing ours.

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day

Friday 14th September 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main fundraising events of the year for the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre is the Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day, held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, in September.

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day will take place for the 17^th year on Friday 14^th September. The event attracts teams from all over the North West, and beyond, to compete for the Michael Marshall Memorial Trophy and enjoy the Gala Prizegiving dinner in the famous clubroom afterwards.

It provides one of the few opportunities for non-members to play one of the world’s leading links courses, on which the Open Championship has been played on 12 occasions, most recently in 2014, when Rory McIlroy triumphed.

The event takes the form of teams of 4 in a 4-ball format contesting the Michael Memorial Golf Day trophy, followed by dinner in the famous clubroom overlooking the course.

Team places are limited, so if you would like to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bobby Jones, Peter Thomson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and enter a team, sponsor an on-course competition or otherwise support the event, please contact Brian Roberts at; bra@btconnect.com or on 07887 678160.

 

 

‘Brunny’ is visited by deputy police commissioner

 

BOOTLE’S well-known ‘Brunny’ community centre has welcomed thousands of visitors over the years – and last week it played host to Merseyside’s Deputy Police Commissioner.

The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, first opened on Marsh Lane in 1964, was visited by Cllr Emily Spurrell who was given a tour of the facility by Centre Manager Keith Lloyd.

In October, the Brunny received funding from the Police Commissioner’s Police Property Act Fund which gives one-off grants to community organisations working to make a difference in their neighbourhoods.

The funding was used to host a range of activities for young people over Halloween and Bonfire Night with the aim of preventing them from getting involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Cllr Spurrell said: “For more than 60 years, the Brunny has been at the heart of this community, making a difference in the lives of adults and young people who may be vulnerable or in need of support.

“If it wasn’t for the work of the Brunny some of those young people and teenagers could otherwise have been in danger of losing their way or being exploited by older people who are involved in crime.  The value of community and grassroots organisations being available to help young people stay on track cannot be over-stated.  It means a better future for them and for their community.”

Emily continued her visit by doing a quick tour around Bootle, before returning to Marsh Lane to attend a Merseyside Police Sefton command team meeting at which she heard more about the issues and challenges in the area from Superintendent Matt Boyle and his team.

She said: It is the Police and Crime Commissioner’s job to hold Merseyside Police to account on behalf of the people across the region.  So it’s really important we are out and about in communities across Merseyside to hear about the issues that are affecting local people.

“It was really useful to meet local teams and find out more about the particular concerns in this part of Merseyside and what more can be done to address them and hear directly about the good work which is already being undertaken to protect our communities and keep people in Sefton safe.”

 

Report by Tom Martin published in the Bootle Champion Vol 25 Issue 9 28^th February 2018

2017 The Year in Review

2017 marked a big year for the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, 70 years since returning prisoners of war made their dream a reality and founded the Brunswick Boys Club, which would later go on to be the Brunswick Youth club, and finally the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre.

 

As well as marking the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre this year has also seen the achievements of several significant milestones.  The Brunswick signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, in essence the Brunswick formalised our commitment to those who serve or have served, and their families.  The Brunswick was assessed and achieved the Bronze award through the Employer Recognition Scheme  for our commitment to the principles of Armed Forces Covenant .

 

Later in the year the work and support that the Brunswick Youth and Community had done that went beyond the remit of our commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant was recognised, work such a support the Veterans in Sefton organsation and hosting them at the centre, as well as becoming the new home for the Bootle Detachment Army Cadet Force, and giving veterans the opportunity to volunteers with the youth club to break down barriers, build confidence and share their valuable skills with young people.  The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre was nominated for and achieved the Silver award.

 

2017 was also a year of forging new partnerships and strengthening old ones.  The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre had gone through a refurbishment allow us to optimise the space we have so that we could support our community even more effectively and host several new partners permanently at the centre, partners such as Veterans in Sefton a organsation offer advice, support, and guidance to veterans and their families.  The Bootle Detachment Army Cadet Force has also set up base here at the Brunswick in the heart of Bootle, Inspire 2 Independence is another organisation that has set up offices in the centre, the organsation supports people back in to training and work.

 

Alongside the new partners based at the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre the Brunswick has strengthened our ties with old partners, the Jamie Carragher Sports & Learning Academy continues to be based at the Brunswick offering educational courses upto BTEC levels 2 and 3 for young people, as well giving them the opportunity to gain practical hands on experience, as well as offering courses during the holidays for children and young people through the Jamie Carragher Soccer schools.

 

As well as those organisations that have offices at the Centre, the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre continues to work groups that hold regular sessions here, such as the weekly Mama Margaret St James Pensioners club, a group that offer social activities for senior members of our local community, also the Liverpool Tamil Kalvikoodam continues to offer educational courses through a weekend school based at the Brunswick for members of the Sri Lankan community across Merseyside.  The Brownies 21^st Bootle and Litherland pack (St James) continue to hold weekly sessions for its members here at the Brunswick, and the weekly sessions held with All Saints and Seaforth Childrens Centres continue to draws in parents and toddlers offering soft play, music sessions, and healthy snacks, and acting as a place for parents to make friends, find support, and interact with other parents.

Throughout this year the strengthened links with One Vision Housing has been invaluable in helping us to support the local community, as has the continued sponsorship from Donoghue Solicitors, a business set up by a “Brunny old boy” wanting to put something back in to the Brunswick and local community.

 

By forging these partnerships we have ensured that the Brunswick is more effective and accessible as ever and continues to be the Hub for the local community in Bootle.

 

The extraordinary work that the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre delivers as well as its unique history and special anniversary led to the centre being honoured with a Royal visit by HRH Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex.   Children, Young people and staff from the Brunswick alongside partners had the opportunity to visit meet the Prince and speak about their experiences with the Brunswick, amongst those present to meet the Prince were Bob King, a former prisoner of war in Oflag 79 where the founders of the Brunswick were held during the Second World War, as well as a son of one of the founders of the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre.  The Prince spent time with children from All Saints Primary school who come to the centre for regular lessons in the community garden around horticulture.

 

Throughout the year the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre has continue to strengthen the offer that we deliver for children and young people from the local community, from the Junior Kids Club, Senior Youth Club, Girls Club, ADHD Foundation session, as well as outreach sessions working with children and young people out in the community.  The Brunswick also worked closely with partners such as Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue, One Vision Housing, and Sefton Council over the bonfire and mischief period to engage young people in positive activities and divert them away from entry in to the criminal justice system.

During this year the team at the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre have continued to work hard to secure funding and support so that the important work delivered by the centre continues to be available to our community.  2017 has seen the Brunswick secure significant funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, & Sport and the Big Lottery Fund through their joint funding programme the Youth Investment Fund.  The funding is secured for 3 years and will allow the Brunswick to extend and enhance existing programmes as well as role out new programme of work ranging from a dedicated Girls Group, outreach in the local area, an apprentice programme, access to training and the opportunities for young people to take part in residentials, alongside access to junior and senior youth club provisions at the centre.

Alongside support from funders and partners this year the Brunswick continued the tradition of the annual Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day, the event held at Royal Liverpool is named for a founding member of the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre and raises funds to support the work of the Brunswick with teams from across the North West and beyond competing for the Michael Marshall Memorial Trophy.

 

As the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre closes out the year and heads into 2018 we have developed exciting new programmes for young people such as the young apprentice scheme, supporting young people to get hands on experience in youth work, acting as mentors to younger members, and developing new skills.

At the heart of the work the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre delivers remain the principles of respect that the organsation was founded on, Respect for ourselves, respect for each other, respect for our centre, and respect for our community.  2017 has been a huge milestone for us all at the Brunswick, Past, Present, Future, – to look back at our roots, recognise the journey that has brought us to where we are, and to look at the future we want to build going forward.  Past, Present, Future.

As we move forward we will continue to place the needs of our community as the driving force for the services we develop and offer, ensuring a relevant, accessible, and engaging programme for our whole community.

The Brunswick Youth & Community Centre and Veterans in Sefton were recognised as part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.  The scheme launched in 2014 by the Prime Minister to recognise employer support for the wider principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.  Employers pledge and demonstrate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community.  This includes the Reserves, Service leavers, Armed Forces veterans, the wounded, injured and sick, Cadets, military spouses or partners and their families.

Both Brunswick Youth and Community Centre and Veterans in Sefton achieved the Silver Award recognising the work we do to tackle Service personnel issues and actively communicate our status as an Armed Forces friendly organisation.

Veterans in Sefton which is run by ex service personnel incorporates counselling and mentors who understand a veterans needs and issues, they provide a comprehensive information, advice and guidance service for all members of the Sefton Armed Forces Community

The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre which was founded by returning British prisoners of War from WWII supports the Veterans in Sefton project, hosting them in the Centre based in Marsh Lane Bootle as well as giving veterans the opportunity to volunteers in the youth club to break down barriers and pass on the skills and knowledge they have learnt during their service.  The Brunswick also hosts the Bootle Detachment Merseyside Army Cadet Force.

Keith Lloyd Manager of the Brunswick Youth & Community Centre and Dave Smith Manager of Veterans in Sefton both express what an honour it was to be recognised for the work both organisation do supporting our military community.

 

 

 

 

 

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day

Sponsored by Cammell Laird Friday 15th September 2017

One of our main fundraising events of the year is the Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day, held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, in September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Michael Marshall Memorial Golf Day has been running for 15 years and attracts teams from all over the North West, and beyond, to compete for the Michael Marshall Memorial Trophy and enjoy the Gala Prizegiving dinner in the famous clubroom afterwards.

It provides one of the few opportunities for non-members to play one of the world’s leading links courses, on which the Open Championship has been played on 12 occasions, most recently in 2014, when Rory McIlroy triumphed.

The event takes the form of teams of 4 in a 4-ball format contesting the Michael Memorial Golf Day trophy, followed by dinner in the famous clubroom overlooking the course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year’s event is taking place on Friday 15^th September. Team places are limited, so if you would like to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bobby Jones, Peter Thomson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and enter a team, sponsor an on-course competition or otherwise support the event, please contact Brian Roberts at; bra@btconnect.com or on 07887 678160.

 

Half Term Programme

The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, working in partnership with Veterans in Sefton, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Merseyside Police, One Vision Housing, Jamie Carragher Sports & Learning Academy and Sefton Council have put together an exciting programme of activities for young people.

 

Date – Monday 24th October

• Soccer Schools 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Outreach Sessions 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Date – Tuesday 25th October

• Soccer Schools 9:00am – 3:00pm
• Hawkstone park 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Youth Club feedback and evaluation of residential 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Date – Wednesday 26th October

• Soccer Schools 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Ingleton Falls 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Girls group planning residential 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Date – Thursday 27th October

• Soccer Schools 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Crocky Trail 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Youth Club Fire Service Awareness 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Date – Friday 28th October

• Soccer Schools 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Liverpool Water Sports Centre 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Youth Club C-Card as well as Outreach

Date – Sunday 30th October

• Soccer Schools 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Operation: Stay Safe 4:00pm to 11:00pm
• Outreach 4:00pm to 10:00pm