“Tenacity” Is Key To Future Archway Funding Say Members

Users of a highly respected and much-valued Leeds resource centre are spearheading a major campaign to save it from the axe of spending cuts.

Over the last 12 years, Archway, which is located on Roundhay Road, has worked with disadvantaged neighbourhoods and communities across the city, giving hope, support and advice to thousands of young people aged between 16 and 25.

But from April, a potential 40 per cent reduction in funding for the Resource Centre service will have a massive impact on the facility – which is run by regeneration charity, re’new – as it will be forced to reduce opening hours, staffing levels and the vital outreach work it does.

However, in a bid to fight the cutbacks and to attract new funders, ten young people have formed an action group called “Tenacity”. The focus of its activity over the next three months will see it lobbying councillors and council officers, launching a Facebook campaign, writing daily blogs and creating a petition on the 10 Downing Street website.

Tenacity co-founder Joanna James, 24, from Harehills, said: “I’ve been coming to Archway for seven years now. It has been a great help. The staff have given me continual support, confidence and help over this time. I can’t bear to think its future is under threat.”

“We want people to know just how important Archway is to young people from all over the city. All the services are under one roof and we are treated as individuals. You don’t find this level of help and support elsewhere.”

Tenacity co-founder, Simone Massey, 23, said: “I became a member of Archway in 2003, but little did I know at the time that Archway would have such an impact on my life. It gave me the confidence to break away and find out who I really am. I couldn’t possibly imagine Archway not being here, because that would mean imagining what direction my life might have taken without their help.

“The staff at Archway should not be overlooked and the emotional support they offer is just as important as the practical.

“If it has to reduce its services and opening times where will young people go? In addition to the services on offer, they come here to socialise.”

Simone, who has been helping out in the English for Speakers Of Other Languages (ESOL) group, added: “I’ve been given great insight into the lives and backgrounds of the learners and the struggles they’ve had to face in their journeys. Their inspirational stories have taught me that whilst I have faced many hurdles in my life these people have faced huge mountains in comparison.

“As a member, I’ve been given some great opportunities from which I’ve learnt an awful lot. Archway isn’t about the fixtures and fittings or the problems. It’s about the people and all of our creative solutions.

“We have called ourselves Tenacity, because we are going to be extremely tenacious in our approach.”

Archway Manager Andrea Tait said: “We currently have 1,500 active members and, over the last 12 years, we have been a valuable resource to literally thousands more young people with a wide variety of issues and needs.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have had to reduce our opening hours. From April we are looking at a possible 40 per cent reduction in funding for the Resource Centre. This will have wide reaching consequences for Archway, the staff and, most importantly of course, the young people who rely on it.

“Archway has helped turn the lives of Joanne and Simone around, hence their drive to lead and orchestrate this campaign. They hope they will be listened to and the powers at be will not withdraw the current level of funding. They are also hopeful of securing new funders in the process.”

On Tuesday, February 9, “Tenacity” will have the opportunity to voice their concerns to local councillors at a Presentation Event at Archway.

Archway offers a large range of services and facilities, including:
• Sporting and arts activities
• Crèche
• Drop in facility
• Music facility
• Housing support
• C-Card, Chlamydia and pregnancy testing service
• Laundry and showering facilities
• Information, advice and guidance on a wide range of subjects e.g. debt and income benefits, housing, homelessness, employment, education and training
• Accredited course for NEET young people
• Housing support
• Connexions Targeted support

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This release was published on openPR.