The November 2002, SHG announced the New Horizons Youth
Project.
Under the management of Nick Stevens since April 2006, ably
assisted by his wife Tina, the Youth Club has grown in size and strength.
It runs a number of activities for the young people of Saint
Helena Island and whilst it is fair to say that many of these are based around
sporting activities, this is no means the only activities offered. In fact, New
Horizons also provide the venue (and coaching) for other activities such as
‘Boot Camp’ on a Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. The Camp offers around
a dozen circuits and it aimed at anyone trying to get fit or who just wants to
come along to make a spectacle of themselves (That will be me!) During our time
here Henry has often frequented New Horizons with his mates from school. He has
taken part in the ‘Youth Games’ competing in table tennis, snooker and
basketball, which he has very much enjoyed, even picking up a few medals in the process! He participated in guitar practice
run at New Horizons and supported by Gareth Drabble, an acompliched local musician who has donated much of his spare time, assisting Henry in preparing fro his GCSE Music practical - Tears in Heaven - I posted a video of them performing it at Plantation House a few Blogs ago. Gareth is also a member of the Big Easy - talented local band, who often play at functions on the Island. Fellow band member Johnny Dillon has also helped Henry with his guitar playing and played along with him on the recrding of Tears in Heaven which had to be sent to the UK as part of Henry's GCSE work. Many people are very willing to help where they can, and we try very hard to reciprocate.
New Horizons AKA Nick and Tina also organise and run a ‘Halloween Fun Night’
with considerable preparation beforehand and youth club members able to
demonstrate their more ‘arty/crafty’ side building sets for the various scenes
through the ‘House of Horror’ as well as engaging their acting skills.
St Helena Day is also organised by New Horizons, offering
parades, floats and fun activities throughout the day.
Nick and Tina work tirelessly (and probably thanklessly) for
the children (and people) of St Helena Island.
Recently a group of teens have got together and plan to
start up another club, focusing less on sport and more on art, drama and craft
activities. This is a great opportunity for the youth of the Island and I very
much hope that both clubs can work alongside each other. As the new group
(YESH) has already identified, there is a gap in the current offer and if the
new club is smart, it will plan its activities to compliment rather than rival
those on offer by New Horizons, meaning that the kids and young people can
choose to be sporty and arty and not one or the other.
