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Rev and Go was conceived in 1999, the brain child of a small group of then 12 year olds. It became an independent trust in September 2000, gaining Registered Charitable status in May 2001. It offers informal education and personal development support to young people in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire. |
Rev and Go has a maximum membership at any one time of 18 young people aged 12 to 17. It typically works with upward of 50 young people in the course of a year. The group has influence in the community over many more young people. |
All work is voluntary. Every volunteer is CRB checked as part of our child protection policy. New volunteers are always welcome. The member's chair sits ex-officio at each trustee meeting to champion members needs. All trustees and volunteers bring special skills, often the most important is being a parent. |
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Current older members strive for examination results at the end of year 11 to gain access to colleges and to apprenticeship schemes. This is the result of work over several years with those previously excluded from school and subject to low expectations. |
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We use a purpose built motor cycle training track licensed from the Territorial Army. These trips operate at least monthly, according to weather and volunteer availability. Current bikes used include 3 Yamaha TTR125s, a Kawasaki KX125, a KX85, and a Honda CR125. Full protective equipment is worn by all participants in off road riding activities. Maintenance of the bikes is undertaken by members under supervision. The Project Manager is a City and Guilds Qualified Motor Cycle Technician, in addition to his youth work qualifications and life time skills in business management. Member self government is key to success of the project, for which members meet in formal session. They take the normal roles of chair etc. Special functions such as trips arrangement and maintenance management are allocated. |
Rev and Go is well known by all young people. The high adrenaline component ensures good word of mouth communication. Members are responsible for approving all applications. A meeting is held with every applicant's parent/carer to ensure that they understand and accept the risks and benefits associated with the group's activities. |
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Safety equipment as recommended by the ACU (the governing body for motorcycle sport in the UK) is mandatory. Workshop sessions use safety equipment such as overalls, protective gloves, goggles and cleaning agents. |
Rev and Go is already in its 9th year of operation. We anticipate continuing with the project over the foreseeable future. |
All work is undertaken on a voluntary basis, avoiding any staff costs. Funding is drawn from a variety of trust funds (e.g. Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales) and from organisations such as Big Lottery. Budgets for 2009/10 will be over £38,000. |
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Work is assessed - for example the organisation of riding trips, quality of bike maintenance, accuracy of the financial records at bank reconciliation etc. Maintenance of the contract is monitored by the members at regular meetings. Reports arrive from members, trustees, local police, town council, youth workers, schools and residents. A member can be expelled from the group by his peers, with permission to seek a 'court of appeal' within the trustee body. Should they give permission to re-gain membership then the young person has to re-apply, loosing all rights and privileges previously gained. |
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The area ranks 3,872nd out of 32,482
nationally for all crime (Office of National Statistics). Youth
crime is highest in Rushcliffe (48 offences compared to Bingham's
22 in a 9 month period). Population comparisons are Cotgrave
705 and Bingham 660 young people. The 7,737 population (2001 census) of the ex-mining town (pit closed in 1993) are the most deprived in the county south of the River Trent, in an otherwise affluent area. Cotgrave has 10.5% of Rushcliffe's 1 year benefit claimants, but only 6.9% of the Borough's population. |
Nationally the area is ranked 4,506th out of 32,482 for educational deprivation. The Office of National Statistics shows Cotgrave's Key Stage 3 results as English 50%, Maths 56% and Science 56%. Borough comparisons are 82%, 87% and 86% respectively. GCSE grades A+ to C are achieved by only 23% of pupils (but 13% of males) compared to a Borough figure of 69%. |
Prior to the establishment of Rev and Go there was a significant public nuisance of riding motor cycles round the streets and woods by under age young men. |