Shaping Futures Through Sport

Natalia Postlethwaite & Jim Claffey from You Can Do Sport jumped on stage to bring the club up to speed with the latest developments.

YCDS launched in 2018 as a further education provider, blending traditional post 16 education with vocational performance programmes. They forge partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, businesses, the armed forces and communities to provide an unparalleled opportunity for their students. YCDS don’t just teach sport, they shape futures.

YCDS Academy utilises the very best Sports facilities and expertise this area has to offer, with all of their coaches having achieved elite levels in their sport. From Former England International footballer Gary Charles, to Former World Champion Boxer, Carl Greaves, and Commonwealth Gold Medalist Rower, Chris Bates.

To date, over 300 students have achieved 100% pass rate – graduating YCDS Academy with the equivalent of 3 A-Levels, and many of them at Distinction. On average 60% of students go on to secure places at some of the leading Universities in the country.

YCDS Academy exists to attract and retain young people in Further Education in Newark. Using their passion for Sport and their vocational interests as a hook to underpin their academic journey. Currently, YCDS is responsible for 40% of the Magnus Academy Sixth Form.

Since launching, YCDS has grown and developed their enrichment programme, now offering football, boxing, netball and rowing. With plans to roll out other sports year on year.

The latest programme, “She Moves, She Thrives” has been developed to offer girls a safe and engaging space where they can explore a range of activities, including strength and conditioning, self-defence, yoga, Pilates, meditation, and team sports such as netball, basketball or football.

YCDS want to continue to expand and diversify their offer to reach more young people and communities. To do this, they are looking for funding to further develop the offering at our College Campus by diversifying the qualifications and sports on offer, whilst bringing YCDS to more schools to enrich their Sixth Form offer.

Whether you invest directly, introduce us to the right people, or just come see it in action, you can make a real impact. Contact Natalia to see how you can get involved – natalia@youcandosport.co.uk

Before leaving the stage, Natalia picked out two business cards for the write ups in the newspaper and our email newsletter. Ian Charles from Signs Express was our regular member and Stephen Harwood-Gray, Financial Planner at BWF Consultants was the first time visitor selected.

Member Spotlights

This month, John Youens of Inara Systems had the chance to shout about his business. If your computers weren’t working, could you still run your business? John can provide a fixed price support contract to ensure your business doesn’t come to a grinding halt. With local data centres your data would be backed up daily. Virtual desktops mean you can access your data wherever you are. For a free IT check email – hello@inarasystems.co.uk

Next month, we’ll be hearing from Lisa Atkinson of Bright & Beautiful.

The round table networking gave members a chance to find out more about opportunities in the room, which also continued in the tea break.

First Visit Feature – Steve Harwood-Gray of BWF Consultants.

I have been a financial advisor for nearly 20 years and moved to the area just as the Covid lockdowns began.

I help SME business owners and private individuals take control of their financial planning. 

My advice provides 5 key benefits:

1. I help clients define their goals and the money they will need to achieve them.
2. I give clients the confidence to invest 
3. I ensure plans are tax efficient 
4. I tailor my advice to keep it appropriate as life changes. 
5. I provide discipline and objectivity during periods of volatility to help clients keep on course to achieve their goals. 

I use cashflow software to provide a visual demonstration of where clients currently sit on their journey to financial independence and how they can model their spending in retirement. 

I have numerous qualifications:

• Law Degree
• Chartered Management Accountant
• Chartered Financial Planner & Fellow of the PFS

This means that I know a little bit about most things and can use this to direct you to other services beyond my own to build robust plans.

Over the last 7 years I have prioritised my family, but now my children are more independent, I am expanding my practice and would love to meet people for a coffee and chat to see how we can help each other.

Email Stephen Harwood-Gray stephen.harwood-gray@sjpp.co.uk

Meeting monthly, the Action Group ensures Newark is best for business by lobbying organisations like Newark & Sherwood District Council and East Midlands Railway. Michael Hardy graced us with his presence and shared the latest goings on with the Action Group.

There has been a noticeable downturn in planning applications which is a slight concern as it would mean a lack of investment in the town. There have been a flurry of HMO applications in the town centre which should assist with increasing atmosphere and help reduce anti social behaviour.

The Action Group objected to the Sainsburys application on the former Homebase site with concerns around the increased traffic on an already busy location.

Works to the A46 duelling are ongoing with planning approval expected by October and at the moment the £500m funding is still there from central government.

The trains are running every hour between Nottingham & Lincoln though they are pushing to have two an hour.

Next meeting is 24^th February at The Organ Grinder.

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