So the summer wasn’t as hot as we’d all hoped nor was it that sunny but we still have plenty to be pleased about. Our regular workshops run during term time only and each year we rely on grants and local authority funding to put together a program of activities for the summer months. This year I’m pleased to report that we were able to deliver short courses to 65 young people, we kept them busy for 125 hours and offered accreditations and training. We had a film making course, two motorcycle workshops and our annual Summer Camp.
Our young filmmakers spent four days under the expert tuition of film directors Sarah Noll and Chris Read. Starting with the basics of documentary filmmaking the group worked up a concept, created detailed storyboards and shared the responsibilities of shooting the film. The group quickly decided to highlight the dangers of knife crime and gang culture and spent three days shooting footage and interviews around this subject. Each young person received accreditation for there work and can be proud of the finished film, which you can see here.
We ran a motorcycle workshop course in the London Borough of Barnet and London Borough of Greenwich. These are detailed motorcycle maintenance courses where enthusiastic mechanics can turn a spanner on our fleet of dirt bikes. They cover the basics of servicing a motorbike and are rewarded with a days dirt biking.
Our annual Summer Camp has become something of an institution and although this takes place in the summer holidays it is talked about all year. This year we returned to Ashdown Practice Track and farm in Oxfordshire. With the sun shining we set up camp and got our young riders out on track. It’s not all about riding motorbikes, our campers are kept busy fixing bikes in our makeshift workshop or preparing meals in our kitchen tent. Evenings are spent together around a warm campfire chatting about the days activities. The Rank Foundation, the Four Acre Trust and Archway Project members, funded this year’s summer camp.
You can see the pictures from this year’s Summer Camp here
The Archway Projects new initiative WORD! is a podcast project designed to get young peoples views heard. Word! is giving young people a voice. A chance to meet and interview the stars, ask questions and get the answers. Those taking part will get to learn how to structure an interview, write questions, record audio, edit audio and publish the finished podcast online. The project will be launching 25th April 2011, young people can register their interest here
The Archway Chopper Challenge team attended the International Custom Bike Show London! The show took place at the prestigious Alexander Palace over the last weekend of February. Archway Project members built their custom bike in front of thousands of bikers and, with support from Nick Gale Custom Cycles, the team assembled the frame, its suspensions and wheels. They fitted the engine, fuel tank, seat and with extra help from Hugo they got the wiring in place. The bike looks fantastic with its shiny purple paintjob. We had lots of interest in the bike and everyone was impressed with how the bike looked. It’s not finished yet as we still have a few weeks to finish the minor details, so it’s back to Nick Gale’s workshop to get the job done. You can watch Archway Chopper Challenge Episode 2 here.
Archway Project has recently secured funding for eight specially adapted cycles. 
The new cycles will be used to deliver fun exercise and mobility programmes to disabled young people, giving them a degree of independence and liberation. This work will be carried out in conjunction with Bexley SNAP and was made possible with funding from the London Borough of Bexley. We expect delivery of the bicycles by 31 March 2011.
The Archway Project has submitted its first film - to the East London Film festival 2011. The Archway to Erzberg film followed a group of young Londoners on a journey to the world famous Erzberg Rodeo. The group travelled by car from London to Eissenerz, Austria. On the way taking in Frankfurt, Admont and the Gesäuse National Park. A tailored film production course, delivered by Chris Reed @ www.chrisread.tv gave the group the skills necessary to record the event. Once at the prestigious race they recorded the action, met the riders and interviewed the stars of extreme endurance racing.
Although this is Archway Project’s first real production we hope it makes the cut at the festival.
Archway member Kutenda Bere says,Before this project I didn’t know much about filming. However, the training we did at Archway taught me how the camera works, the filming process and individual production roles. I was the soundman and recorded all the audio. I hope they like the film as I really enjoyed making it and the Erzberg Rodeo is one SICK race.
East London Film Festival will announce the films shortlisted for this years festival in February, fingers crossed.
You can watch the Archway to Erzberg film Here
Our members really enjoy receiving their certificates and it serves as a reward for all their effort. This is especially important as a large portion of our membership struggle academically, within mainstream education.
To build a bike from scratch requires a high level of fabrication and knowledge. This is why the Archway Project has enlisted the help of custom bike builders Nick Gale Custom Cycles. Nick Gale heads up the award winning company and helps out with all aspects of the build.
Operations Manager Neil Monaghan says, we really wanted to show how skilled these young people are.They turn up each week to fix our dirt bikes, which is no mean feat. We wanted to demonstrate how skilled these young people are and I couldn’t think of anything more challenging than building a bike from scratch. They are learning a completely new skill set the design, fabrication and assembly will be completed to an exceptionally high standard. Ultimately the bike will be ridden on the road so the bike will need to pass stringent safety checks. The young people have responded to the challenge and are really enjoying working along side Nick Gale.
The finished bike will be unveiled at the Ace Café Custom Bike Show and sold at auction. All proceeds will by donated to the Variety Club.
You can take a look at our pictures here or watch our short video here Nick Gale Custom Cycles is at www.nickgalecustoms.com/
Archway Project recently started working with the students of Rowhill School; Rowhill is a brilliant school in Kent which works with young people to meet their behaviour and learning needs. Archway Project is delivering its Open College Network ‘Motorcycle Workshop Programme’ on site so there’s no need for the young people to travel; we set up at the school so the students are comfortable and in familiar surroundings. In addition to the accredited course the pupils have gained confidence, practical mechanical experience and enjoyed off-road motor biking.
Les Milton from Rowhill School says...
The Archway Project has added a new dimension to our already dynamic technical curriculum. We have participated in car mechanic courses previously but a new level of pupil interest has been reached with the introduction of motorbikes.
The smaller scale of components has increased the inclusion for pupils with different special needs. The staff and pupils who participated in the off road training had an excellent time and are actively looking forward to the next event.
The Archway Project would like to welcome David Ofari-Safo and Rodney Aidoo to the staff team.
We first met David in September 2009 when he completed his university work placement at Archway Project. David was involved in one of our biggest projects ‘ Archway to Erzberg’ and has already made a lasting impression with our members. We congratulate David on passing his youth work degree and welcome him to the staff team.
Rodney has been involved with the Archway Project since 2007, firstly as a member and more recently as a volunteer. He has worked really hard to assist other project users and helps new members settle in. His song and dance routines have become legendary.
The Archway Project returns from the Erzberg Rodeo. We travelled over 2000 miles, through four different countries, took a tour of the KTM motorbike factory and was part of the biggest off-road race in the world. You can view pictures and reports at www.archwaytoerzberg.tumblr.com
Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel the Enduro scheduled for the 7th August. We will be planning two events next year and hope to rectify this problem by then. A massive thank you to everyone who supported this event. We hope you will continue to support the Archway Project.
On Wednesday 2nd June Archway Project set off for the Alps! Fourteen young Londoners will spend the next seven days travelling through Europe to the famous Erzberg Rodeo in Austria. When they arrive at the prestigious motorsport event, the group will put their film production training techniques to the test and interview the world’s elite motorbike riders.
The blog site will be updated with daily reports, stunning pictures and video clips. You can follow their progress at www.archwaytoerzberg.tumblr.com - to receive updates simply click on the link and hit the FOLLOW button.
Fran Gorman has been appointed as Chair, replacing Martin Jenkins who was in the role for two years. Fran, aged 30, who is one of six trustees on the board and Head of Public Relations and New Media at the national charity, the Mental Health Foundation, said: “The staff at the Archway Project are delightful to work with and passionate about turning young people’s lives around. It is challenging time for the third sector but the staff and trustees are working hard to ensure that the project goes from strength to strength. The charity has such a lot of offer young Londoners.”
December 2009
The project has been given an early Christmas present by way of a £9,679 grant from the Big Lottery Fund. We were in desperate need of new safety kit for the 100 members who attend every week. When young people go out riding on a track they need to be kitted out to ensure their safety and are required to wear boots, crash helmets, gloves, knee and elbow pads, and lightweight breathable fabrics. John Milton, Director of the Archway Project, said: “We’re very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund. This grant has enabled us to buy in much-needed new kit. The young members really like it because old worn, torn and mud-stained kit isn’t nice to use. It also means that when out on the track our members feel proud to be looking the part when showing off their motor-biking skills!”
November 2009
We are seeking to raise £10,000 to fund our annual camping and off-road motor-biking residential. The trip gives young people the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques on unexplored terrain. They leave London behind for the countryside, where evenings are spent round a camp fire. We are working hard to ensure that the trip can go ahead in August 2010. Money needs to be raised to cover camping fees, motorbike fuel and spare parts, food, cooking gas, camping equipment and minibus fuel.
