Black Country Housing Group (BCHG), an award-winning housing association based in Blackheath has gifted 10 tablets to support young people in Wrens Nest with online learning and communication during the coronavirus pandemic.
The tablets were distributed as part of BCHG’s Dudley Community Cohesion Project, funded by Dudley Council (Dudley Innovation Fund).
Managed by the Wrens Nest Youth Centre, Dudley Community Church and BCHG’s Social Business Team, this employability and positive behaviour project aims to reduce anti-social behaviour within the Dudley borough.
As the Wrens Nest Youth Centre is currently closed due to the national lockdown, the tablets will allow youth leaders to hold weekly sessions, allowing the young people to reconnect with each other in positive, innovative ways.
Most importantly, the 10 children will form a local Youth Committee, meeting every week via zoom with Avija Cerevko, the youth centre’s Community Development Officer.
PC Hubert ‘Hughie’ Treasure MBE, who is overseeing the Wrens Nest project, commented:
''The incredible donations will make a significant difference to these 10 children who do not have access to IT facilities at home, enabling them to not only reconnect with each other in positive, creative controlled ways, but also to have a focus during these difficult times’’.
Speaking of the project and BCHG’s involvement, Peter Hoarle, Head of Business Development, said:
''Black Country Housing Group is more than bricks and mortar; we are a social business investing in people and communities.
''Our Community Development and Employability Officer, Merisha Smith, has exemplified this in how she has formed relationships with Dudley Council, the Police, the Church, the youth centre and the local community to enable this and other projects to take place during a time of national lock-down’’.
For more information about the Dudley Community Cohesion Project follow @DudleyProject on Twitter or @DudleyCCP on Facebook.
View the tablets being handed over here.
Pictured in the video are Pastor Joe Hayes, Hubert ‘Hughie’ Treasure MBE, Evija Cerevko, Cody Wilson and Josh Treasure. Cody and Josh both live in Wrens Nest and will be a part of the youth committee.
