"I first came to Kids Kabin when I was eight. I enjoyed doing anything creative, especially cooking and woodwork, but I was a quiet and shy kid, so coming along really helped me meet new people. I got really confident with cookery and ended up doing it at GCSE. I got the second top grade which was amazing."
These are the words of Courteney Cartwright, who is now embarking on a career after completing an apprenticeship in youthwork with Kids Kabin, a growing charity that’s been a fixture in Walker, and other areas of Newcastle, for almost 30 years.
Having recently recruited its next Youthwork Apprentice, Kids Kabin’s pace of change over the last five years has been rapid. In 2018 it expanded into Middlesbrough, and three pilot projects are in the works for new North East locations in 2024.
Partnership is key
It’s partnership from within the community that’s been key to this growth, which enables the developing Kids Kabin team to offer creative and practical activities including pottery, bike repair, woodwork and cooking to more than 1,400 children from low-income neighbourhoods each year, with a plan to exceed 2,000 by 2026.
Chief Officer Will Benson said: “We’re fortunate to be part of many amazing communities, and because we have strong relationships with other charities, businesses, and with the families of our members, sometimes chance conversations lead to incredible things.”
Case in point is Thirteen Housing Group, a longtime ally that was immediately supportive when Kids Kabin began planning its expansion into Middlesbrough, suggesting the perfect spot for a series of street workshops.
Will continued: “We’d had some success with pilot activities in response to a need for more positive activities for young people in an area that had seen a few problems, and Thirteen’s local knowledge meant they really knew where we could be most valuable.”
Fast forward to 2023 and the Middlesbrough team, led by Sue McBride, has outgrown its original premises and will soon move into what was a three-bedroom house with a garden, meaning it can offer more outdoor activities and welcome more members.
Jill Finnan is Thirteen Housing’s Community Coordinator. She said:
“Calls to the Anti-Social Behaviour team have decreased since Kids Kabin has been on the estate.”
Always open to new ways of working, Kids Kabin has developed a partnership with the Bykerheadquartered N21 performance marketing group, which approached the charity to offer support. In return for assistance with website design, Kids Kabin has run fun, creative pottery workshops for the N21 team.
In addition to leveraging such backing, over the last year, as a Weston Charity Award-winner, Kids Kabin has been part of the Pilotlight 360 mentoring scheme, setting short and long-term goals that lead to greater efficiencies – and will ultimately result in better outcomes for Kids Kabin’s young members and their families.
Will said: “We firmly believe in the philosophy behind Pilotlight – that communities are stronger when different sectors work together. We collaborate every day, with private sector organisations, schools and universities, and other charities. For example, Courteney’s apprenticeship was co-hosted with The Bostey youth centre in Walker.
“Doing this expands our capacity and reach, helping us make things better for people living in some of our most under-resourced neighbourhoods.”
360º Advocacy
Courteney isn’t the first Kids Kabin’s member to come back as a volunteer or employee. Many become whole-life advocates for the organisation, with one, Noor Amer becoming North East Young Charity Champion in 2019. At the same time Kids Kabin was named the region’s Small Charity of the Year.
Will said: “Kids Kabin benefits hugely from the ideas, energy and passion of volunteers, so it was special to share that celebration with Noor, and we’re proud her brother continues to volunteer. We’ll also be watching Courteney’s career with interest as she continues to build both skill and confidence. This is what our work is about!”
Support Kids Kabin’s work via its website at kidskabin.org.uk, or if you’d like to volunteer, collaborate on a future project, or have a challenge you think Kids Kabin could help you meet, get in touch with the team at admin@kidskabin.org.uk