THE
PILGRIM CLUB
SEDGEFIELD AWARDS FOR SENSATIONAL YOUTH
"CLUB OF THE YEAR"
WINNER
2007
Youngsters from The Pilgrim Club were rewarded for their efforts and achievements during 2007
By being named as
Sedgefield Awards for Sensational Youth
“Club of the Year”
2007
during a presentation held at Ferryhill Leisure Centre
Ben Maddison and Jonathan Anable accepted the award on behalf of The Pilgrim Club
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Land's End to John O'Groats 1000 (s)miles cycle challenge 9th - 23rd August.
Adam Churm and Bill Pike completed the ride in just over 13 days.
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"KoolKa&h"
Sedgefield Borough Council's under 13s funding initiative. Have awarded the club £953 towards the 5 night summer camp.
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"Who's Fault Is It Anyway"
Funded by Coalfields Regeneration Trust in association with Youth Clubs County Durham. Youngsters from the Pilgrim Club took part in a Drugs and Alcohol drama project. Exploring the issues associated with substance mis-use. The youngsters created the theme for the drama produced by Les Watts.
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Leargus and Connect Youth
Sword, Dublin 26th - 28th September 2008
Volunteers from the Pilgrim Club recently took part in a Causeway Project Contact Making Seminar in Dublin. Making numerous positive contacts with Irish, and Welsh and Scottish youth groups also attending the event.
As a result of the visit. Twelve members from The Pilgrim Club are to have the opportunity to visit Chairde, Donegal in Ireland. The Causeway exchange visit with Chairde Social Action Exchange group is set to take place during May 2009. Will involve various activities and opportunities to experience life styles of young people in Ireland.
The Chairde group have also invited six club members to attend a tri nation exchange based around drama and activities. Taking place during Feb 2009 and involving young people from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK.
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FREEMASONS DONATE
£500
The Freemasons Province of County Durham have donated £500 to The Pilgrim Club.
"Your support is very much appreciated".
"Thank You"
Michael Parker accepted the £500 cheque on behalf of The Pilgrim Club. From Freemasons Jim Forster and Ken Richardson and then presented Jim and Ken with a Pilgrim Club plaque, as token of our graditude.
The Pilgrim Club founder and trustee, John Cutting went on to say
“We were all impressed Jim and Ken found the time to visit and present us with the cheque. They spent time talking to the kids and volunteers and showed a genuine interest and knowledge of our activities and the issues facing our youngsters today. The Pilgrim Club is very much community led and driven to provide opportunities and experiences not normally available to the children and young people of Shildon. This donation will be used to continue to support those aims.
With our most recent, too establish a Youth Exchange program within The Pilgrim Club and Shildon. Creating opportunities and providing funding for all Shildon youngsters too experience overseas travel and the various European cultural differences.
The donation will be used to support the forthcoming Causeway Exchange visits to Ireland taking place during February and May 2009. Six young people will be taking part in the Feb exchange. Three members of the Shildon Youth Forum are being joined by three from a similar organisation from Derwentside. They are making two visits to Ireland during February, with an exciting full program of drama and outdoor activities.
The May exchange will involve 12 youngsters from Shildon visiting the same group in Donegal.
Any additional funding will be used to support the club’s fishing, camping and cycling activities in Scotland and Wales.
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ARMY
SUPPORT
FOR
THE PILGRIM CLUB
Staff based at the Army recruiting office in Bishop Auckland, trustees and volunteers from The Pilgrim Club and local businesses. Are all creating the opportunity for young people from Shildon. To take part in a 3 day 140 mile sponsored Coast2Coast cycle ride, from Workington on the Cumbria coast to Sunderland in Tyne & Wear.
Locally based Senior Army Staff have made transport and other logistic support available to the charity. Office Manager C/Sgt Nick Froehling of The Duke Of Lanchester Regiment is providing the admin support. Event organisor Sjt Rob Williams from the newly formed Rifles will also be taking part in the ride. The Army are also providing 12 cycle tops with Nick and Rob also organising fundraising events. The Pilgrim Club are providing the bikes, health & safety equipment, instructor and on ride maintenance support. Paul Armstrong manager of Phil Hedley Tyres and Phil Cousins from P & G Window Cleaners and club volunteer Ian Emmerson are taking on the challenge and riding with the youngsters.
Training for the July event starts in the January 2009 and with the emphases on fitness training. Bicycle repair & maintenance, health & safety checks, on and off road safe riding cycling skills and first aid training.
Charity spokesman John Cutting added. “The on & off road training programme will itself provide some exciting challenges. We have some of the best routes in the country within easy reach and I am sure Rob will make sure the lads/lasses sample some of them. The staged programme also provides the opportunity for youngsters who may like the idea of taking part in such a challenge. Who perhaps don’t have the confidence, or feel they are not fit enough, or just don’t have a bike. Too come along and give it a go. You will need to be at least 15 years old. (further details Tel Rob, or Nick 01388 604110).
We are also hoping to use these skills to organise and take part in a longer ride later in the year. Progressing onto a European Exchange Adventure planned to take place during 2010”.
The group will also be using camcorders and cameras attached to the bikes. To make a visual record of their achievements during the training and event rides.
This will be the second time County Durham lad Rob has organised and completed the ride on behalf of local youngsters.
During 2006, Rob organised and took part in a similar sponsored C2C. Local residents joined Regular and Territorial soldiers too raise almost £3,000 for The Pilgrim Club.
Rob & members of the Light Infantry, joined by Pilgrim Club volunteers & supporters at Workington. Before the start of their sponsored C2C ride.
The C2C ride, is Britain's most popular long distance cycle route and is based on minor roads, disused railway lines, off-road tracks and specially constructed cycle paths. With a highest point on the route of over 2000 feet, the ride presents a serious challenge to riders of any age. Starting from Workington with some fairly easy going to Cockermouth, then a gentle introduction into the Lakeland Hills and a off road section into Keswick and the first overnight stop Penrith. Day two very quickly gets much harder with an early climb up and over Hartside Pass. Followed by a long descent and some say an even tougher climb into Nenthead and the end of day two. Day three and following the steep and awkward climb out of Rookhope. It’s nearly all downhill on the cycleway to Sunderland.
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