The Centre is open three days a week and has a community garden, a youth club, a girl’s group, a clothes swap shop, a community café, a drug and alcohol drop in centre and a crazy craft club. The girl’s group caters for vulnerable girls who are at risk of child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation through County Lines and childhood pregnancy. Sexual health is a big issue on the estate and the Viking Centre provides support to young people in collaboration with Social Services and the local GP service.

The Tribune Trust are pleased to be able to assist ONGO Communities with their aim to support positive changes on the estate. ONGO would like to work with young people aged 8-19 years to provide positive engaging activities that they are able to choose themselves. A large percentage of young people living across the Estate live well below the poverty line with a child poverty rate predicted to be around 40%.

ONGO will consult and discuss activities with young people at youth clubs, within schools and during their mentoring sessions. These are usually core activities that include trips, craft sessions, sports, themed events i.e. Halloween & Christmas, cooking and baking activities and resources for our youth clubs. Youth mentors will engage with young people in order for mentoring conversations to take place. Youth Mentors will tackle potential behaviour issues and negative thoughts, as well as encouraging young people to take charge of their own lives, regardless of their home circumstances.

Joe Henderson. one of the Tribune Trust Trustees is shown presenting a cheque to Sarah Staves and Marie Merrison, two of the staff at the Viking Centre.