The M.A.D project has suspended until Government guidance on COVID19 and social distancing changes, please check our updates pages and follow us on social media for latest news.
The M.A.D team are however offering phonelines to support young people.
- The Lighthouse mobile will be staffed from 10am – 6pm Monday – Friday so young people and service users can make contact for support or updates
- Youth service and M.A.D are in the process of developing online engagement with young people using Facebook and Instagram live
Telephone support lines
Lighthouse mobile: 07548 712857
Alison O'Connell (M.A.D project): 07587 034783
What is Mad?
Make A Difference
MAD stands for Make a Difference and is a Sport Birmingham's open access youth development programme.
MAD works with community partners to develop a sustainable programme that offers:
1. Life skills program (key skills, mentoring, training and personal development)
2. Open access youth activities in 3 hub sites
3. Mobile pop up outreach services targeting housing estates, community spaces, streets and parks by bringing the activity to young people.
M.A.D Birmingham is a youth engagement programme which uses activities, such as sport, to tackle social issues.
Everything we do is designed to help young people fulfil their potential. We pride ourselves on being relatable and understanding their situation. We continuously work in line with our values of trust, honesty, integrity and a non-judgmental approach whatever the circumstance.
Our programme is about putting the young people first and presenting them with an opportunity to shape their future and the direction of the project.
Youth are the future and this is where it begins.
MAD……FOR YOU. BY YOU.
Working from hub sites in Perry Barr, Nechells and Stechford, we aim engage young people aged 11 – 18 years olds and providing them with real direction and opportunities.
The M.A.D programme includes a 'VAN' load of activities and resources for music production and video filming, games consoles and sports equipment. They offer a host of opportunities, including street soccer, badminton, table tennis, boxing and much more.
Backed by Birmingham City Council, The M.A.D programme facilitates work through a team of Youth and Sport Engagement Officers, and in partnership with organisations including Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Holford Drive Community Sports Hub and FITCAP.
Key outcomes of the programme include:
- Boosting the aspirations of young people, supporting their personal development to get the skills and confidence they need for the future.
- Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
- Promoting social inclusion and community cohesion.
Experiencing healthy relationships through sport
FASTN have collaborated with Sport Birmingham and Birmingham City University on a project to understand how mentoring and sports activities can help young people learn about relationships.
The M.A.D programme is run by Sport Birmingham and provides mentoring and activities for young people at risk of, or already in, exclusion from mainstream schooling.
Birmingham City University interviewed the participants of this programme to better understand the relationship skills and understanding they had gained from the programme. The learning from this project has been distilled into a useful document, Experiencing Healthy Relationships Through Sport can be downloaded here.
With special thanks to a funding boost from Big Lottery and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
