KISS

KISS - Kendal Impact Social Society - is a scheme that aims to facilitate the young people in becoming more proactively involved in positive events; ones that promote physical and emotional well-being, provide learning opportunities, and galvanise community cohesion.

The most recent project involved the successful acquisition of a substantial amount of funding for gym memberships.  The grant, obtained through Cumbria Community Foundation, assists in encouraging the young people to access sports facilities; something done through collaboration with the local leisure centre and their sports development officers. The project started in February and is running over a six-month period (with a view to an extension); and provides access to the gym, public swim as well as private swim tuition, weekly use of a sports court, and taster sessions for classes such as Circuit Training, Zumba and Pilates.

In order to monitor the outcomes of the project, and to assist in our application for its continuation, the young people are using personal scrapbooks to evaluate their times at the leisure centre.

The success of the scheme is evident already.  We have had an unprecedented take-up from the young people, who are already reporting benefits to their physical and emotional health; which, in turn, is helping them to increase their self-confidence and motivation.  There is a tangible atmosphere of collective raised self-esteem; something we hope can help with a reduction in antisocial behaviour in the ensuing months.