Woodvale & Ainsdale Community Association is a charitable organisation based in the Woodvale area of Ainsdale, Southport, which has a population of approximately 11,027 people. According to the Government statistics indices of Mass Deprivation 2007, the area is recognised as being of high socio-economic deprivation.

The aims of WACA are to promote a safe environment for all age groups by establishing and sustaining an adequate and appropriate range of services, support and provisions for and within the community. WACA endeavour to provide the following for the community of Woodvale & Ainsdale:

Woodvale & Ainsdale Community Association is formed of a Management Committee which includes Chairman, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and several committee members from the local community. The Management Committee and the Community Development Manager meet on a monthly basis. There are also three part time staff. We have a number of volunteers from the local community who help out with various projects. All staff and volunteers have enhanced CRB disclosures.

All project staff and volunteers are managed and supervised by the Community Development Manager, who, in turn is managed and supervised by the Management Committee.

Mission Statement

To bring the people of Woodvale & Ainsdale together as a community, and to provide them with as many opportunities as possible.

Our Vision

Woodvale & Ainsdale Community Association (WACA) strives to engage with the community by connecting local people to activities, services and opportunities.

History of Woodvale & Ainsdale Community Assocation

WACA began in 1992 when local residents identified a lack of both a community focal point and co-ordinated activities. At this time the group met in a disused school. In 1999, having secured charitable status, residents convinced the borough council to provide a purpose built community centre on the original site of the school. The Centre was as an integral part of a scheme to build a new housing estate and primary school for the area.

In 2004 the Charity Commission recognised the increase in facilities and activities which WACA provided, in partnership with its volunteers, agencies, schools and the local community and faith sector. Consequently, the Commission agreed to our request to extend our “area of benefit” to the boundaries of Ainsdale, with priority given to the deprived communities of Woodvale.

During 2005 WACA secured funding to employ a full-time Community Development Manager, on an initial three year contract, and after more than a year of negotiation a lease for the building of a former fitness centre was acquired and renovation work on this began.

In 2006 the doors finally opened at the new WACA Recreation Centre for a Boxing/Kickboxing Club and activities for youngsters during school holiday periods. The ‘Official Mayoral Opening’ of the Recreation Centre took place in August when we used the opportunity to thank all of our partners and funders. Throughout the early part of 2007 we not only increased the developing range of activities and projects we had on offer but also the number of groups and organisations, that use our services and facilities.

Activities provided since 2008 included: Arts & Crafts, Baby Cafe, Baby Health Clinics & Baby Massage, Baby Rhyme Time, Boxing Club, Chair Based Exercise, China Painting, Football Academy, Healthy Cookery Demonstrations, Painting for Pleasure, Parents Education, Salsa Dancing, Street Dance, Tai Chi, Tots Music Sessions, Writers Group, Young Carers, Young Women’s Project and Self Defence, and many more. The Association also provided a diverse range of FREE activities during all school holidays, for children and young people. This was achieved through funding from Sefton Youth Service. In addition to monetary funding, we have also been extremely fortunate, by donation, with the acquisition of a sixteen-seater mini bus.

2009 to date has seen the development of Partnership working; we are now members of Southport Youth Consortium along with YMCA Southport, Light for Life and Parenting 2000, and also part of Sefton Youth Service North Youth Service Providers. Successful funding applications have resulted in new FREE courses being delivered for unemployed residents in the local community, e.g. First Aid for Appointed Persons, Food Hygiene Level 2, a 12 week Confidence and Motivation Course. We will also be running, Employability Training, A ‘Drop in’ Jobs Club, Introduction to Computers, and Debt Management Training.

We are continuing to develop our Outdoor Activities Club and have provided training for our volunteers in Hill Walking, Mountain Leadership, Off Road Trail Biking, and Blo-Karting, now qualified, our instructors are able to offer experiences for young people and local residents who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in. We have registered as a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Centre and our volunteers will be working with young people to achieve their award. The Mountain Bike reward scheme run in partnership with the community police is very successful, resulting in a drop in anti-social behaviour and crime in the area. The aims of the Outdoor Activities Club are to increase the skills and experiences of individuals to enable them to act as inspirational figures, community mentors and community leaders.

Amenities
WACA consists of 2 buildings within a half-mile radius of each other which comply with current DDA regulations. They are Woodvale Community Centre and WACA Recreation Centre.

Woodvale Community Centre which is the base for our Community Development Manager and also our Administrator is located in Meadow Lane, Woodvale, adjacent to the King’s Meadow Primary School and King’s Meadow Children’s Centre. Our location is an ideal setting from which we can continue to strengthen community cohesion and build upon our close partnership with the Children’s Centre, thus implementing the 2007 Primary Capital Strategy. In addition to the various regular activities available at the Community Centre, it is available for hire by private users, voluntary organisations and statutory agencies.

WACA Recreation Centre is located at Orchard Lane, Ainsdale. Amenities at the site include a full-size boxing ring. We provide the essential resources required to enable a very successful boxing club, which is affiliated to the Northwest Counties Amateur Boxing Association, to regularly use the premises. The majority of our physical activities are held at this site such as:

Both centres are currently open upto six-days per week including evenings, and provide a diverse range of activities on a regular long term basis. These long term activities are interspersed with various temporary ‘short run’ activities, some of which are free.

Management Structure & Profile

View our organisational chart: Click Here

Chairman: Ted Hartill is a local recently retired policeman with community skills and is the designated ‘Lead Safe Guarding Person’. Has wide knowledge of the area and actively works in partnership with other outside bodies. A committed volunteer for our Outward Bounds Project, with Trail Cycle Leader, and Blo-Karting qualifications, is actively involved with the association. He is the lead worker on the WACA Staying Safe/Self Defence courses for young women.

Ms Alison Marshall: A local resident and founder member of the association with commitment to young people. Her children participate in the organisations activities. Has an enhanced CRB certificate.

Warren Brooks: Works with young people in a professional teaching capacity and through voluntary activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and footbal refereeing. He has a background in charitable Trusts, education fund-raising and outdoor pursuits. Enhanced CRB clearance.

Tony McQuillan: A local resident actively involved in the development and running of the Ainsdale Boxing Club. A committed volunteer in the up keep of the Recreation Centre, and a volunteer A.B.A. boxing coach. He has recently assisted in delivering on the Staying Safe/Self Defence courses for young women held at WACA. Has an enhanced CRB certificate.

Suzanne Thompson University Lecturer PhD in Human Resource Management Development, and MBA. Previously a Business Advisor with Central Southport Partnership, Merseyside, managing the extremely successful, SRB-funded Measure 2 Business and Hotel Grants project. Over thirty years’ total business experience, of which twenty years spent in Brussels with Worldwide conglomerate ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation). A Qualified Life Coach

Funders & Partner Organisations - 2010 / 2011