Flex Community Hub
Changing the narrative
Changing The Narrative is a core project at The Flex Community Hub which is situated in Vange, Basildon. The three-year initiative is targeted at providing inclusive and equitable opportunities for young people from marginalised backgrounds and uses physical activity, mentorship, and skill-building programmes to foster both personal and community development.
The Flex Youth and Community Group was set up to inspire marginalised communities to embrace their true identity and unleash their inner potential. Although Flex is targeted at supporting minority groups, they also focus on supporting those a risk of engaging in antisocial behaviour and violence. The group is targeted to tackling areas of need and their projects are tailored to providing a hook for young people and families to access wholesome activities whilst receiving mentoring, stability, and family.
Since launching Flex, they have gathered feedback from the community pertaining to barriers and mistrust in available services and socioeconomic challenges. As a result of this, they have worked to build the necessary culturally sensitive and community-focused intervention that is Flex. Their programmes help service users to shape their own values, while providing them with all the tools, resources and support they need in order to evolve into confident leaders both today and tomorrow.
Changing the Narrative runs alongside the WE MOVE project, which is funded by Sport England and removes the cost as a barrier for children and young people to access sport. Often young people are stereotyped and stigmatised, so at Flex they work to support them in self-development and making positive and informed choices. The ‘Flex Way’ enables them to celebrate and encourage young people to strive for success while carrying themselves with integrity and poise. Many service users come from marginalised communities and have struggled to engage with activities due to lack of funds, representation and more importantly acceptance, therefore Flex is wanting to ‘Change the Narrative’.
Flex Youth has already been positioned as a trusted advocate for Black and ethnically diverse communities in Basildon and building trust with young people is key through consistent youth-lead programmes. Addressing systemic inequalities and mistrust from the target population is vital to the success of the programme, as many users are traumatised by previous experiences of racial prejudice.
Through funding and support from Active Essex, Basildon Borough Council and the NHS Health Inequalities Fund, Flex have been able to co-produce the programme and also widen and strengthen their network of potential stakeholders and community systems, such as the BB Alliance. This has helped to increase impact and stature within the local community, as well as mentor young people to live healthier and more active lifestyles and release their true potential in safe and encouraging environments.
Since gaining funding Flex have been able to put systems in place such as accounting and HR to support with the general day to day running of the organisation. They have also been able to step back and develop a robust business plan and financial strategy that will lead them to longer term sustainability. Gaining staff that are dedicated to the overall running of the organisation has meant that they can delegate tasks more efficiently and provide the best service to young people and the community at large.
