‘Winch’ set to take services to youngsters - Youth worker Clare Bissell, hopes to reach kids away from Swiss Cottage base.
Published: 09 June 2011
by JOSIE HINTON
STAFF at a popular club for young people are preparing to take their services out on to the streets.
Clare Bissell, The Winchester Project’s newest youth worker, is hoping to reach youngsters away from the club’s Swiss Cottage base.
The plan is part of a range of innovative ideas to keep improving services despite massive funding cuts.
Ms Bissell said: “We’re hoping to do some work in schools and other places where young people are already hanging out. Not everyone wants to go to a youth club so it’s about making the youth club as accessible as possible to as many young people as we can.”
Since joining the Winchester Road club last month, Ms Bissell (pictured) has already overseen the renovation of its basement into a new “youth space” and accompanied young people on a trip to Harlem.
She said the biggest challenge was dealing with slashed government spending.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenging year,” said Ms Bissell. “At the moment at least 50 per cent of our funding comes from Camden Council and it looks as though that will either disappear or be drastically reduced.”
She said the main issues faced by young people in Swiss Cottage were lack of self-esteem and opportunities – compounded by negative images of young people in society and the media.