URBAN FOX
Helenslea Hall Management Committee has been operating for 25 years and 10 years ago submitted an application to the Scottish Executive Safety Fund for a football programme to operate in 4 areas of the East End - Lilybank, Bridgeton, Dalmarnock and Reidvale. Led by Michael McCourt, Project Manager, the bid was successful and the Urban Fox Programme was established.
The thinking behind the bid was to use football as the tool to bring young people together to address the gang culture within our communities. The name Urban Fox was adopted as these creatures that settle in our city do not respect or recognise the boundaries that our young people think exist which prevents them travelling to other neighbourhoods. This programme would encourage young people to travel to other areas to utilise services.
The programme was set up not only to play football but to expand young people's mind and take part in programmes whereby the old stigma of living in the East End would disappear and that these young people would go on to be proud of what they would achieve.
Very soon funding was in place and volunteers were recruited to help provide the various programmes. A look at the Urban Fox project makes others recognise just what can be done with a strong committee and with the support of young people and partners. Drop-in sessions were introduced and young people became hungrier for more to challenge them. Football coaching programmes, cyber fox sessions, healthy cub's programmes, first aid courses, drug and alcohol training were only some of the things introduced. Outward Bound courses were organised, H4U, a sexual health project for teenagers was introduced to the Helenslea Hall premises, and street-work training was also incorporated in the Urban Fox Programme. Taking Urban Fox out on the road (mobile games sessions / cybder fox) meant extra income which in turn meant extra facilities for East end youngsters, the vision that the committee had now came to fruition.
Success Stories
Thanks to Urban Fox, East Community Planning Partnership and many other funders there are numerous success stories. Here are a few...