Essex Boys and Girls Clubs
Essex Boys and Girls Clubs is a registered UK charity working with young people in Essex and East London.
The Aims of the Charity
The charity's constituted aim is to further the development and education of boys and young men and girls and young women, so as to help them achieve their physical, mental and spiritual potential, enabling them to grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.
Geographical Coverage
Essex Boys and Girls Clubs delivers services to the UK county of Essex, including the districts of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, and to the East London boroughs of Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Waltham Forest, Newham and Hackney.
The Work of the Charity
The charity supports young people by working with approximately 150 volunteer-run community youth groups, including multi- and single-sport clubs.
The charity's work includes activity sessions in individual youth clubs, volunteer club leader training and support, arranging inter-club events and competitions, running youth development courses and outdoor skills courses, targeted projects, including The Respect Project, Duke of Edinburgh Award, National Citizen Service and the Jack Petchey Club Improvement Scheme in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation and the YMCA George Williams College.
History
Set up in 1939 as the Essex Association of Boys Clubs, the organisation changed its name in 2006 to Essex Boys and Girls Clubs to reflect the membership of its affiliated youth clubs. Augustine Courtauld (1904-1959) was the first Chairman of the charity.
Patron
The patron of Essex Boys and Girls Clubs is the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre
Management
The charity is overseen by a voluntary Executive Committee of Trustees. The current Chairman is Mr Jonathan Douglas-Hughes OBE DL of Gepp and Sons Solicitors.
Day to day management is led by current Director Mr Martin Solder.
National Affiliations
The charity is affiliated to the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) which is a newly formed National organisation set up to promote inter-county activities and programmes. NABGC runs self-funded events open to all member clubs in the network which include:
- National Cross-Country Championship, held annually in January at Stubbers Adventure Centre
- Essex Adventure Weekend, held annually in June at Stubbers Adventure Centre
- Regional and National Rounds and Finals of the Boxing Championships, held annually usually in the Autumn
Funding
Essex Boys and Girls Clubs is funded partly by donations and grants from charitable Trusts and partly by winning local and national government grants to deliver targeted youthwork projects.
The charity also holds annual fundraisers for the public to attend and support their work. These include:
- The Essex Jailbreak from HMP Chelmsford. This 15-hour event challenges teams of four to get as far away from the prison as they can, without spending any money. The record is held by a police team who reached Rangoon in the 1980s.
- Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle Ride, usually held in late Summer.
- Three Peaks Challenge in 24 Hours, usually held in June.
- Golf fundraisers, usually held in June/July and October/September.