Streetwise club marks sweet 16

Streetwise Youth Community held its 16th anniversary ball at Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green this month, raising £1,500 which will be ploughed back into the charity.

The event also celebrated the first anniversary of their own community centre in Warton, which was awarded the Fylde Council Community Club of the Year Award for 2017.

More than 120 guests were greeted by a champagne reception before a three-course-meal, which was followed by a presentation by founders Elaine and Gerry Gregoire on how the charity has helped those within the community over the past 16 years.

Following the meal, a charity auction was held, raising money to help maintain the development of the Streetwise Youth Community Centre, designed to be the “centre of projects such as musical youth, performing arts, streetdance, multiskills, youth clubs, family groups, and holiday clubs.”

Comedian Bobby Ball attended the event as a guest of honour and had the pleasure of presenting and congratulating the auction winners, with prizes ranging from photoshoots to YMCA gym passes.

The night was closed by entertainment from singer Mark J and DJ Cal.

Elaine said they are in the process of building a forestry school as well as providing a free holiday club for children of the Fylde coast over summer. The money raised from the ball will also go towards the development of three more workshops designed for teenagers, with the aim of igniting their creativity.

Elaine said: “One workshop will be for graffiti, with the other two designed to help young people with their mechanical and woodwork skills.”

The aim is clear – Streetwise is designed to be a fun, social club for young people in the community to help them gain practical skills for the future.

The success of the charity has not gone unnoticed by others in the community, with Fylde Council commissioning the pair to assist in the creation of two further clubs in Lower Lane, Freckleton, and Kirkham, as well as paying regular trips into schools.

The event is the latest in a line of successes for founders Elaine and Gerry, who were recently invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as a reward for their dedication to the community.