Whitehawk is an area of considerable social and economic deprivation and young people living on the estate face many difficulties and challenges. The Crew Club is an invaluable part of their lives and has helped many young people to develop new skills and gain a sense of achievement through challenging themselves and trying new experiences.

The Crew Club has grown substantially since it opened in 1999. Over that time, our staff, young trainees and volunteers have worked hard to provide thousands of hours of sporting, social and educational activities for hundreds of local young people.

We have also developed productive partnerships with agencies across the city and now run many projects with local schools, the police, the council and other voluntary sector youth groups. These partnerships are crucial to the success of the Crew Club which makes a major contribution to the regeneration of the local area and wider community.

As the club has expanded we have outgrown our current premises and are now in our new building funded by eb4U. This building is a landmark facility for the local community and will help to ensure the future continued growth and success of the Crew Club.

We face many challenges, not least the need to secure our future through further funding. We have come a long way and are justly proud of our role in the local community as we work to improve the quality of life and increase opportunities for young people.

In closing, I would like to invite more people to get involved in ensuring our work continues in the future. The Crew Club is a small organisation doing a very big job. We need individuals and companies who are interested in improving young people’s futures to work with us as volunteers, or to offer us their skills, experience or resources in other ways that will make a difference to young people.

Phil Doyle - Chair of Trustees