“Paul”, “Jake” and Kurtis are three very different young men from different backgrounds who have found jobs and more thanks to Manchester based community project N:gl.
N:gl, makes real change to the lives of Greater Manchester’s young people, and the community at large, with a dedicated programme to prevent vulnerable young people from getting involved in crime, drugs and gangs, something which directly affects us all across all classes, from the deprived to the wealthy.
N:gl, founded by teacher, David Schofield, and musician and MMA professional, Jaden Irving, aims to improve the lives of Greater Manchester’s youth through sport, music, fashion and food, with a new model that guarantees long term support for those affected by drugs and gangs.
N:gl shines a light on the struggles that vulnerable young people face and looks to disrupt the traditional volunteering model that normally feeds organizations that are created to improve our communities , with founders David and Jaden believing that it causes even more disappointment in the lives of young people when those well meaning volunteers start to encounter financial difficulties of their own, and end up having to drop out of the supporting role in order to take care of themselves or their own families
The N:gl programme, which has already helped a number of young people by extracting them from the city’s growing gang and drug culture, includes three young people who are all from very different backgrounds, proving it’s not just young people growing up in deprived areas that can get lost down a dangerous path of crime and drugs.
N:gl welcomes any vulnerable young person, from any background if support is needed, one of the young people to get involved in the programme is Paul , 18, from Tameside
Paul, from what would be seen as a middle class background, got caught up in crime and was well known to police in his local area as a serial car/bike thief. Through the help of N:gl’s support programme Paul is now employed full time at The Players Entrance in Stockport and has left behind his previous life of crime
Another young person who has benefited from the support of N:gl’s programme is Kurtis Roberts, aged 19 from Denton.
Kurtis joined the team supporting young people when David met him selling school uniforms. David recognised that Kurtis had the skills he needed to work at N:gl. Kurtis is now a Peer Mentor at N:gl and following furlough, has now been offered a permanent position, looking to work his way up the ranks and working with fellow young people.
Kurtis, who admits that getting drugs on tick at a moment’s notice is easy, quickly lost his way in lockdown. He had no routine or structure to his days and he started to stay up late, drink, smoke and hang about with the wrong people. Having a job and peer support role, gives him a reason to stay out of trouble and away from those temptations of drugs and “easy money” through crime
Along with issues related to crime and drugs, the program also supports those who have issues with speech , language ,communication or learning challenges , to help them to control disorders such as ADHD , Aspergers and ODD
Jake , 17, from Denton , first sought the help of N:gl after being a pupil at the PRU school where David Schofield worked. David immediately recognized Jake had ADHD and possibly aspergers , based on his behavior and characteristics , and pushed for a diagnosis
Jake who is currently looked after in care, was subsequently diagnosed with both of those disorders
Since the diagnosis, Jake has come a long way and is now able to now control his own behaviour and turn it into something positive, after 4 months in the N;gl programme. We are very proud of him
The organisation uses activities that will engage young people whilst also helping them to develop life skills such as shopping, cooking, washing, ironing to enable them to live independently and be successful in getting themselves into the job market. It does this through unique centres which offer all of this support and activity in a safe place under one roof.
The first N:gl centre in Stockport has recording studios, Mixed Martial Arts, state of the art sports simulators (with an e-sports arena soon to be added), learning zones and life skills advice. Schools, Colleges, Residential Care Homes and Social Services can access support for young people most in need of intervention via referral on the N:gl website and all the usual social media channels
David, founder of N:gl, said: “Many people make the mistake of thinking drugs and gangs are only in poverty stricken areas – they are not. They are present in some of the most affluent neighbourhoods too and we want to make a difference everywhere.
“We have had a number of young people come onboard the programme and it’s changed their life around for the better, we welcome vulnerable young people from any walks of life to put them on the right path.”
David and Jaden have set the ambitious goal to raise £480k by the end of the year to employ the necessary safeguarding leads and mentors required, to guarantee the programme for 3 years at the first N;gl centre in Stockport, which will support vulnerable young people in Stockport , Tameside and Oldham
Year two and three, the aim is to expand into Trafford, Salford and Bolton followed by Wigan Bury, North Manchester and the city centre.
Their first step in this process is to ask the wider community in Manchester to help them with their first fundraising initiative – #ChallengeMcr300. It costs n:gl around £300 to support a young person with a mentor for two years, this also gives them daily access to the support centre so David and Jaden are asking people to commit to donate or raise £300 now.
N:gl already has 50 benefactors and supporters including some of Manchester’s best known musicians, actors and sports stars, as well as a host of companies and private individuals .
You can contribute to the organisations Crowdfunding page here
https://www.
