The 1Up Collective are a multi-disciplinary group that strive to help young people reach their potential through education and social inclusion. In Basildon, with support from the Active Essex Foundation, they have been able to set up a project in response to an increase in youth anti-social behaviour. Young people who may be vulnerable to knife crime and youth violence can feel supported and safe in this environment created by 1Up.
The 1Up programme gives these young people an outlet. Some of the participants were keen on the boxing and martial arts because it was a chance for them to release any frustrations and worries, which can be safely navigated inside the walls of the project. Some of the young people enjoy sport and have been able to develop these skills through the lessons with supervision and guidance.
The difficult circumstances that some of the participants have been experiencing on the streets and in their social groups have meant that the safe environment provided by these sessions have supported their mental health also because they have a supportive community they can regularly visit and rely on.
Their sessions in Basildon have created a community for the young people and the group have set up boxing, martial arts, gym, and music production sessions for them to learn new skills and have fun doing so with other local young people. They also offer life skills and mentoring which is an opportunity for reflection and goal setting. The young people can talk to each other, and the project leads about what they hope to achieve and progress they’ve made so far.
Louise Brown the co-founder of 1Up told us;
“We wanted to create that safe space and a community where they can come to feel safe, be respected and understood and we use boxing, martial arts, gym sessions and music production as a hook to get them in through the door.”
Louise along with her team have created a community and their determination to help as many local young people as possible has made the project the success it is.
One parent of a participant told us;
“1Up has made a massive difference to our family in terms of my son. His involvement in the project has had a very positive effect; there’s a difference in him, he’s getting his feelings of worth back because they’re making him realise that he’s not this bad kid.”
The Active Essex Foundation have been proud to support this project and provide opportunities for other funders to become involved. We hope that this project continues to grow and that in the future we can support other programmes such as this to use physical activity as an intervention.