Frequently Asked Questions

• ‘Building Bridges’ – climbing club, camping, walking, orienteering, Basic Expedition Leaders Award, and weekend ‘residentials’

• Drama group (in partnership with Teach UK)

• ‘Grow Our Own’ – voluntary work, work experience and vocational qualifications

• FAST Club (Families and Schools Together) – extended school provision and support for parents

• Junior youth club – arts, crafts, and games

• ‘Pavilion’ - evening drop-in activity sessions

• ‘Sports Link’ – football, cricket, netball, badminton, and martial arts

• Youth Forum – encourages young people to discuss issues affecting them, become more active in their community

Click here (pdf file) for our latest activity timetable.

We are based at Holy Trinity Community Centre in the centre of Ashton, but we also run activities at Oxford Park Community Sports Centre, Katherine Street MUGA, Holy Trinity primary school and St Peter’s primary school.

Click here for a map showing the locations of all our premises. If you would like to visit us by public transport, go to traveline-northwest.co.uk to plan your journey. If you are coming by car, go to the RAC Route Planner for directions. The postcode for Holy Trinity Community Centre is OL6 7HD, and the postcode for Oxford Park is OL7 0PW.

Yes - everything is free for residents of the St Peter’s ward of Ashton. To find out if your address is in this ward, go to http://www.tameside.gov.uk/forms/wards.php3.

We run a wide range of activities for children and young people aged 5-19 and also for those young people up to the age of 25 years and not in employment, education or training (NEET). Some of our activities are for children aged 5-12, and some are for children aged 12-19. FAST club and our sports camps are only open to 8-12 year olds though.

Yes – all children and young people who take part in our activities need to complete a short ‘membership’ form the first time they come. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian will need to sign the membership form.

We are committed to doing our best to accommodate all children and young people who would like to take part in our activities. If you would like to discuss your or your child’s individual needs, please phone Carl or Victoria on 0161 214 9999, or email Carl at Carl.Kelsall@stpeterspartnership.com or Victoria at Victoria.Clark-Leece@stpeterspartnership.com
All the buildings we use have wheelchair access, but the minibus we normally use is not wheelchair accessible, so we would need advance warning to book alternative transport if that was required.

Click here (pdf file) for our latest activity timetable.

Alternatively, you can keep up to date by phoning Surrya on 0161 214 9999, or emailing Surrya at surrya.glover@stpeterspartnership.com

We also have a SPY Facebook group, which you can join by going to. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29897129816.

We have taken the following measures to ensure that all children and young people are safe whilst taking part in our activities:

• All activities are supervised by suitably trained and qualified staff

• Nearly all SPY staff and volunteers are trained first aiders

• All activities have an appropriate ratio of staff to children

• All staff and volunteers are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked

• All staff and volunteers follow health and safety procedures

• All children and young people taking part in our activities complete a membership form which includes details of any medical conditions, medication and emergency contact details

• SPY has an appropriate level of public liability insurance of no less than £5 million

• The parent or guardian’s consent is sought for all trips out

• The children and young people taking part in our activities agree a behaviour code before the session starts

• SPY has a formal complaints procedure which can be used if required

If you have any particular concerns you would like to discuss please phone Surrya on 0161 214 9999, or Surrya at surrya.glover@stpeterspartnership.com

We aim to ensure all children and young people taking part in our activities are happy and have clear boundaries. The young people participating in a session are asked to agree a behaviour code before the session starts.

WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF BULLYING

If you or someone you know is being bullied, please contact any of our members of staff, who will listen and support you with whatever action you decide to take. SPY has a formal complaints procedure which can be used if required.

We welcome all feedback, whether positive or negative. Please phone Carl or Victoria on 0161 214 9999, or email Carl at carl.kelsall@stpeterspartnership.com or Victoria at Victoria.Clark-Leece@stpeterspartnership.com They will do their best to help you. SPY has a formal complaints procedure which can be used if an informal solution is not successful or inappropriate.

FAST stands for ‘Families And Schools Together’. The FAST Club provides a wide range of activities for children who attend Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s primary schools and their families. The activities take place throughout the year (including during the holidays), and include:

• family day trips

• cinema

• sports

• chess club

• arts and crafts

• orienteering, rambling and camping

• climbing

• homework club
  
  
• swimming
  
  
• bowling
  
  
• residentials

FAST Club aims to improve school attendance, punctuality and behaviour, increase educational attainment, promote good community cohesion and enrich the lives of young people. If you would like to find out more about the FAST Club at Holy Trinity primary school, please phone Ali Kadar on 0161 330 1065, or email admin@holytrinity.tameside.sch.uk
If you would like to find out more about the FAST Club at St Peter’s primary school, please phone Kevin Connaghan on 0161 330 1691, or email Kevin.Connaghan@st-peters-ashton.tameside.sch.uk

If you are interested in volunteering with SPY, phone Victoria on 07813 837507 to make an appointment. You will need to fill in a volunteer application form, and have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check done. We will then match you with a suitable opportunity – most normally last around 12 months. We will provide you with all the training you need, and support you throughout your placement.

We recruit our casual workers from amongst our volunteers, and directly from local community. It is essential that you have experience of working with young people, but you do not need to have any youth work qualifications. Our casual workers are currently paid £7.86 per hour, and will be offered up to 15 hours’ work per week.

All vacancies for casual, part and full time work with SPY are advertised in our free local newspaper the Tameside Advertiser. To search for job vacancies listed in the Tameside Advertiser, go to http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/jobs/.

We have 2 large rooms at Holy Trinity Community Centre, which are available to book at a rate of £15 per hour. One is upstairs, and one downstairs. Only the downstairs room is wheelchair accessible. We are not able to provide refreshments, but you are welcome to use our kitchen facilities.

If you would like to book a room, please phone Surrya on 0161 214 9999, or email Surrya at surrya.glover@stpeterspartnership.com She will provide you with a booking form to fill in.

This is something we are looking to develop. If you are interested, please phone Carl on 0161 214 9999, or email Carl at carl.kelsall@stpeterspartnership.com

Yes. If you need a youth worker phone Carl on 0161 214 9999, or email Carl at carl.kelsall@stpeterspartnership.com
Our casual workers can be hired for £15 per hour, and our qualified staff can be hired for £30 per hour. All the profits are used to support the activities and training SPY runs for local children and young people.