Trent Bridge Community Trust’s Positive Futures has been awarded a £63,590 grant from Seven Trent’s Community Fund to roll out the project’s first mentorship programme in the city. 

Positive Futures currently targets children and young people at risk from social exclusion in Rushcliffe, working with specialist youth workers to offer one to one support and workshops. 

The new programme, based at the Trust’s community hub in Melbourne Park, will mirror the Rushcliffe delivery with high-quality sports and physical activity, and an aim of bringing about enjoyment and increase positive behaviours for those who attend.

A team of specialist youth workers and wraparound staff will also deliver mentoring, employability workshops and ongoing support to those who attend.

Callum Pharoah is a former member of the Positive Futures who saw his confidence develop whilst working with Positive Futures mentors.

Pharoah went on to become a peer mentor on the programme to help other young people develop and grow. His journey can be seen here.

Mark Clifford, Community Project Manager at the Trust, is hoping the city programme can have a similar effect on young people in the city. 

“During the last 12 years of Positive Futures in Rushcliffe, we have seen the real, tangible impact our intervention can have on young people and the decisions they make," he said.

“Moving into the city represents a fantastic opportunity to extend our reach, and to make a difference to individuals with a range of needs.

“We are grateful to Severn Trent for this grant, and are excited to see how this project can grow over the next 12 months and beyond.”

Severn Trent’s Community Fund was created for community groups and projects that aim to improve community wellbeing: 

• People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills.

• Places: Projects that help to create better places to live in and use.

• Environment: Projects that will help look after our natural environment.