Friday Night Project - a case study

Our Friday Night project at Rye Sports Centre, was made possible by the funding from Rye Town Council, the project has been designed to appeal to young people in the area, giving then something engaging to do on a Friday night. The site dedicates a weekly slot just to the project, so the participants can be with peers of the same age, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Freedom Leisure worked in partnership with Rye Town Council, to make the project really appealing to young people, including activities such as Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Cricket and more. During the initial consultation process, the outcomes of the project hoped to engage with local 11 – 17 year olds, to increase activity levels, promote peer engagement and tackle anti-social behavior, all set in a safe space to hang out in. The FNP is open to those aged 11-17 years and will run each Friday night from 5.00 - 7.00pm, with spaces limited and available on a first come first served basis. Sessions cost £1 per person per night with unlimited activities included. The funding from Rye Town Council, meant the project could run at a cost of only £1 to each participant, helping to break down any barriers around price and help to provide affordable accessibility to the project.
The project has been well supported by Rye Town Council, with one of the local Councillors taking a lead role, in attending each week to help support with our delivery on the shop floor. Their support has been a great addition, and a key part of the success of the project, acting as the contact within the council, and being able to help engage with the target group that have been attending.
The site is continually looking at opportunities to further enhance the programme, ensuring it remains engaging, and not repetitive and stale. This process has involved feedback from the youngsters that attend, who would like to see activities such as fun swimming pool session, spin and circuits classes, to name a few. 
Exciting times lay ahead for the project.