The latest winners of our community fund

Our community fund launched in July 2020 and since then we’ve run three rounds of funding and awarded a total of £18,594.93 in funding to 11 community projects for the benefit of Origin residents. We’re so proud to have supported a wide range of brilliant initiatives in our communities. Many of our projects are ongoing so we encourage you to keep updated with our website and follow our social media channels so you can hear about upcoming activities and projects we’ve supported.

We’re delighted to announce the recipients of our final round of community funding: Maiona Coding, Playskill, ProTouch and Film Skool. You can find out more about each project below and you can find a full list of all fund recipients here.

Maiona Coding

We’ve funded Maiona Coding’s introductory training course on languages for the Internet which includes classes on how to code, how to build a website or app, introduction to database and interview skills. This course covers JavaScript, HTML, SQL, CSS, web hosting and mobile app development. This is a fantastic opportunity for residents to develop computer coding skills which are in high demand and can lead to well-paid careers in tech and IT. By completing this training, you’ll be given the tools and resources to continue more learning and advice on how to enter the Tech and IT industry.

Training consists of for 4 x two-hour sessions delivered online via Zoom video conferencing. This course is free for Origin residents.

Dates: 4, 5, 11 and 12 May 2021. Times TBC.
If you have any questions email: kareem.dayes@maiona.co.uk or visit https://maiona.co.uk/. To apply for the Maiona course, fill out the the application form here: https://forms.gle/ysPe52zjSzJTbHkz5.

If you don’t have access to a laptop/tablet or internet to complete this online course, we have a Digital Inclusion scheme which provides Chromebooks and internet data for residents to complete employment courses like this one. Click here to apply for our scheme.
 

Playskill 

Playskill is a local Watford charity that runs free parent and child playgroups for pre-school children (aged 1-5) with special physical needs or developmental delay, with support for parents and the whole family. At their groups, children and their families receive expert support from a Paediatric Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist. Playskill sessions use play as a tool for development – while the children are having fun, they are also learning to stand, eat, communicate and walk.
 
If your child is not achieving their physical milestones of sitting, standing and walking, Playskill are here to help - they will assess children and give input as necessary from age 1 to 5. Treatment and all services are completely free to families. With covid restrictions in place, they are offering a blend of remote and face-to-face therapy sessions. Remote sessions are via video conferencing, and face-to-face sessions strictly adhere to Government health and safety guidelines, with full PPE.
 
Our donation is supporting Playskill’s work this term. As they are expecting high demand for their services, they encourage you to make an early referral. Playskill are based in Watford and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and welcome interest from residents living in Watford and Three Rivers, Dacorum, St Albans, Hertsmere, and other surrounding local areas.

To register your interest, please visit www.playskill.org/contact-us or call on 01923 227 229 (please let Playskill know you are an Origin Housing resident when you register).

To find out more about their work visit www.playskill.org

ProTouch

ProTouch was set up to help, support and encourage potential young, gifted and talented football players. As well as this, they support the communities they work in to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. We have funded ProTouch's weekly online sport sessions on Zoom for children ages 6-16 years old. The classes are active online sports and health wellbeing sessions consisting of 45mins with 15 mins Q&A/Quizzes. The sessions are split into Primary/Secondary age groups and Special Educational Needs and Disability targeted age groups (up to 25 years of age). The classes begin in April 2021 and are free for our residents’ children to attend.

ProTouch offer plenty more opportunities for children and young people which our residents can get involved in. They also offer:

• Free sports packs – registered participants can request a sports pack to use to participate in the masterclasses. Packs will include a football, cones, water bottle, medal, note pad, pen, a We Stand for Equality t-shirt etc (sports packs are funded by Camden Giving and Westminster Council).
• Group sessions – ProTouch host a series of topical conversations about different issues impacting young people such as Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter. These topics are chosen and led by the young apprentices, volunteers or peer leaders
• Phone 1-2-1 check-in- registered participants have access to weekly 1-2-1 check-in sessions to discuss concerns they may be facing during this difficult period. 

ProTouch work in the following areas: Barnet, Camden, Lambeth, Southwark, Westminster

ProTouch’s next big activity is a free Easter Holiday programme. To sign up on the Get Active Online programme, register by clicking on this link: https://app.upshot.org.uk/survey/0cd6ff88/702/d4295ed5/  and if you require any further information, please email info@protouchsa.co.uk   

For more information about ProTouch, visit their website - www.protouchsa.co.uk

Film Skool 

We’ve funded Film Skool’s 3-month filmmaking course for young people aged 11-18 who live in the Barnet and Hertfordshire area, which gives them the opportunity to learn about the filmmaking process and gain valuable practical filmmaking skills. The course is free to Origin residents.
 
The young people will participate in five classroom-based sessions learning about the filmmaking process and writing and developing their screenplays. They will then be put into small groups of 5 or 6 and will all get the opportunity to write, direct, produce and edit their short films using professional filmmaking equipment. They will work with professional filmmakers during the post-production process, giving them the opportunity to learn from experts. Once the films have been completed, they will be screened at a Curzon cinema, where students can bring their parents/carers along and share the films with their local community. All students will get a special edition DVD of their film which they can use in their portfolio.
 
The course will start on 5 May 2021 and finish on 30 September 2021. The dates for each session are below:

• Session one- 5 May 2021 
• Session two- 12 May 2021
• Session three- 19 May 2021
• Session four- 26 May 2021 
• Session five- 2 June 2021 
• Filming will be in July/August 
• Editing will be in September 

To find out more information or to register, email montyalam187@hotmail.com or visit Film Skool’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/filmskool/