Alex Tolond

BEING PART OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEVELOPMENT GROUP

"I have been part of the Young People's Development Group (YPDG) for over a year and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Being able to input my ideas and have a say on what will be an incredible facility for young people has been such an amazing part of my life, it has been an opportunity that I am so grateful for. I have done things that I never thought I would have had the confidence to do, such as interviewing staff and speaking in public, rapping with John Barnes and even being on the hoardings in Birkenhead. The YPDG has helped me in lots of ways from gaining friends and accessing support to increasing my confidence. Our YPDG is like a family, we all support each other through the good and bad times and it has been amazing and I really do look forward to having the opportunity to access the Youth Zone. Seeing the Youth Zone develop and incorporate the ideas of the YPDG is crazy, and it makes me proud to know that I have been a part of this, and that I have been able to put my ideas forward and help to design and amazing facility for us."

Alex Tolond

   

Ryan – YP Impact Story

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO ACTIVE!

"I joined The Hive to get involved with the sports activities to build on my physical fitness. I like playing football, my mum originally booked me into The Hive as I just say at home all the time on YouTube. I was very nervous when I started coming to The Hive but now I'm quite confident. I wasn't very fit, but now I've been able to use the gym, boxing, and the football pitch to get healthier and fitter through so many different sports activities"

"The Hive is so fun, the staff are so kind and helpful. The young leaders gave me a tour when I first joined too, this made me feel so much more comfortable in a place where I didn't know many other people

now I'm so much more happier and fitter, I love coming to The Hive. I've never been so active since joining the Youth Zone"

---

"Ryan was a really quiet young person and didn't really participate in any of the sports activities, now he regularly is the first person into all of our sports activities, He particularly enjoys the boxing sessions and has progressed really well, he's a fit and healthy lad who we have the pleasure of working with on a weekly basis." - Chris Lane - Sports Co-ordinator  

---

"Before Ryan started at The HIve, he was a really shy person, the first lockdown didn't really help his mental health or ability to engage with other young people. After struggling for childcare we decided to drop Ryan off at The Hive, I can honestly say that dropping him off was like dropping him off at his first day at school! It was so nerve racking but thankfully the team at The Hive reassured me and Ryan and now he's very excited to come back each week. His confidence levels and ability to engage with other young people is at an all time high. So many of our friends and family have noticed the improvement in Ryan that they've now started to send their own kids! We've seen such a positive impact on our family and it's one of the best decisions we've ever made." - Ryan's Mum

Ryan Upton - aged 8

 

Lewis Collins

Massive shoutout to Lewis Collins for his work on our new staff portal - great work Lewis

Jodie Bateman – Volunteering

“I volunteer at The Hive because an investment of my time and talents with a young person is an investment in my community. I find the African Proverb “a child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth” really powerful and I want to be someone being a positive influence and empowering the young members of our society. Someone in the village who is part of the embrace.” 

Jodie Bateman

   

Alex Tolond – Volunteering

“I volunteer at The Hive because I want to support young people in the way that I was supported. I enjoy giving back to the community and sharing all that I learnt whilst a member at The Hive with other young people”

Alex Tolond