Learning to draw graffiti, breakdance and beatbox are just some of the free tutorials now available to young people across Gloucestershire, thanks to a project funded by Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
The online programme of activities has been created by Your Next Move, a not-for-profit organisation which provides opportunities for young people of all abilities to learn Hip Hop related activity.
Why has Your Next Move launched online courses?
The organisation has been unable to run its dance sessions since the covid-19 lockdown, so has had to diversify its offering to provide a range of engaging activities online. The digital tutorials are hosted under the name Your Next Move TV. Local artist Slaz has been involved in the project to create 12 online graffiti writing tutorials, with plans to create similar courses covering dance, emceeing, beatboxing and cross art-form classes.
Tyler Atwood, Founder of Your Next Move said: “We’re really grateful that the OPCC was so flexible with our funding. We believe that there are no limits to expression and we try to inspire young people to break down barriers through dance and music. During lockdown, the lack of contact has been really hard for young people, so we’re working tirelessly to create high-quality tutorials and support which is accessible to young people in Gloucestershire.”
How will Your Next Move fund these free courses?
The project originally received funding from the OPCC’s Commissioner’s Fund to help provide in-person dance classes, but unable to physically get together, the OPCC offered flexibility in how Your Next Move used its funding, helping the organisation to continue supporting young people during lockdown and into the summer.
Established by PCC Martin Surl in 2012, the Commissioner’s Fund supports crime reduction and community safety initiatives in Gloucestershire. Martin allocates 1% of the overall policing budget to the Fund, to support county-based projects that deliver one or more of its priorities.
Since 2012 grants have been awarded to hundreds of community and voluntary organisations, including 470 local projects working to break the cycle of crime.
View from Police and Crime Commissioner, Martin Surl
PCC Martin Surl said: “The classes that Your Next Move offers in Gloucestershire are incredibly helpful to young people. They provide the chance to focus, provide guidance, community; and as with any kind of exercise, can improve mental health.
“I’m pleased my office was able to be so flexible with its funding to help ensure that these courses can continue digitally, and I congratulate Your Next Move for being able to diversify and continue supporting young people in the county.”
The project sits in line with one of Martin Surl’s Police and Crime Plan priorities: Young People Becoming Adults, which aims to help shape gloucestershire’s young people to become law-abiding and productive members of society.
How to get involved
The online courses and resources are available at yournextmove.org.uk.
