Search Results

< Back Volunteer Get to Know: Eli As The Huddle’s impact in the Wyndham area continues to grow, our volunteers and their connections to the community are vital in helping young people learn, grow and belong Riley Goodwin Previous Next

< Back Empowering Youth Through Sport Stephenie Webb 8 June 2023 The Huddle Up! Senior Program in Wyndham In the vibrant community of Wyndham, the Huddle Up! Senior program has been making a positive impact on young people's lives for the past 6 years. Developed in collaboration between The Huddle and Point Cook Senior Secondary College (PCSSC), this program aims to engage and empower youth through sport and recreation activities. With a focus on fostering inclusivity, belonging, and personal development, the Huddle Up! Senior program has become a catalyst for positive change in the community. Established in 2017 with support from the Wyndham City Council, the Huddle Up! Senior program now runs in three locations across Wyndham and offers a safe and welcoming environment for students in years 7 to 12 to participate in sport and recreation activities. By leveraging the power of physical activity, the program promotes a sense of belonging within the community, enabling individuals, families, and the local community to thrive. Over the past three years, the Huddle Up! Senior program at PCSSC has been instrumental in creating acceptance of diversity and building an inclusive community. The program has helped young people develop social networks, make connections, and engage in physical activities in a psychologically safe space. Through discussions with program participants, it is evident that the program has become a vital outlet for after-school socializing and unwinding. A survey conducted this year showed that 72% of Huddle participants have built connections in their local community, and 85% have increased their physical activity levels since joining The Huddle. "It's an opportunity to unwind after school... the Town Centre is too overwhelming to hang out in after school." - Program Participant Beyond its recreational benefits, the program has empowered young individuals by fostering leadership and initiative skills. Participants are encouraged to organize themselves into teams, coordinate social round-robin tournaments, and even assist with umpiring and scoring. The program's positive influence has extended beyond the sports field, inspiring collaborative projects with partners like Wyndham Youth Services, which aim to further empower young leaders. In 2022, the Huddle Up! Senior program at PCSSC attracted over 189 unique participants from 41 different cultural backgrounds. With a total of 1,196 attendances throughout the year, the program has effectively reached young people from 12 different schools across Wyndham. This year, registration numbers have been equally as promising, with 134 new registrations and 476 attendances from Nov 2022 until June 2023. With an average of 44 attendances per session, these statistics demonstrate the program's popularity and the strong desire for its continuation. The Huddle Up! Senior program stands as a testament to the transformative power of sport and recreation in the lives of young people. Through its commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and social engagement, the program has created a positive ripple in the Wyndham community. Huddle Up Senior at Point Cook Senior, continues to run every Thursday night from 3:00pm – 5:30pm in the school Gymnasium. Register via the link here . Previous Next

< Back Making Waves in Anglesea Ruth Game 19 Feb 2024 An 8-year Surfing Adventure with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea The collaborative effort between Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (ASLSC), Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea (GRAW) and The Huddle created another joyous beach experience for young participants and their parents this January. The generous provision of wetsuits and surf lessons from GRAW, coupled with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers, has each year become one of the major highlights of The Huddle calendar. This initiative, beginning in 2016 and now funded by The Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon introduces first-timers to the beach, teaches skills for water competency and provides a quintessential Australian experience all by the generosity of the Anglesea community. Since the beginning of this partnership, over 150 wetsuits and 8 surf lessons provided by GRAW, there has been enthusiastic participation of ASLSC volunteers and the wider club over 9 visits to their venue, and overwhelming positive feedback from 300+ participants. "I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member In 2016, families living in Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne and Ascot Vale were invited to brainstorm ideas for a Huddle school holiday program to keep youth engaged over the break. The concept of a Surf Trip began to form, and The Huddle reached out to Go Ride A Wave and Anglesea was quickly suggested as a suitable location for beginners. From there, a relationship with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club was established and has strengthened year on year. ASLSC’s Nippers, volunteers, and young people have been keeping other young people and their families safe in the water and have shared in the joy of many participants’ first time at the beach. Three themes have emerged from this partnership over the years; the importance of water competency, social inclusion, and providing what is a quintessential Australian experience; a day at the beach with a snag. "I was so excited, and a bit nervous. I got dumped by a wave but I will definitely come back next year!” - Participant The generous contribution of wetsuits and surf lessons by GRAW has been a game-changer. Paired with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers and their newly renovated venue, the event has been meticulously organised every year. Partnering with GRAW and ASLSC has ensured the sustainability of such a well-loved program. “I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member “I can’t emphasise enough how loved this day is by the families we work with and that’s in huge part to the warmth and generosity of the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club.” – Huddle staff member The success of this place-based partnerships initiative funded by the Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon paves the way for future collaborations with ASLSC and Go Ride a Wave Anglesea. The Huddle is committed to expanding this program, ensuring more young people can experience the joy of the ocean in a safe and supportive environment. “The waves are kinda hard and I was like oh my god, I was really scared... I had a try and then it was really fun!” – Huddle participant To support initiatives like these and make a lasting impact on young lives, consider contributing to The Huddle's mission. Your support can help create more memorable experiences and positive transformations for the community. Previous Next

< Back Heating up the holidays with a Volleyball Tournament! The holidays got heated at the Huddle Holidays Volleyball Tournament! ​ Previous Next

< Back Participant profile: Ayden Bartlett Riley Goodwin 15 June 2022 Ayden takes part in the Guard of Honour during AFL Indigenous Round If you keep in the loop with The Huddle, you may have seen one of our participants take part in the Guard of Honour during AFL Indigenous Round this year. That participant is Ayden Bartlett Keppler, and that is only part of his journey at The Huddle. Ayden, age 13, first became involved with The Huddle in March this year, signing up to our Huddle Up! Seniors sessions at Manor Lakes P-12 College. His older sister had been attending the program, so he wanted to join in and check it out himself. Since then, Ayden has been coming to Huddle Up! consistently each week for the whole year. His favourite sport is AFL, and he also enjoys cooking and all things technology. An enthusiastic participant, Ayden is always creating new activities and games for The Huddle participants and even gets the staff to join in, since taking part in the program he has developed a love for indoor soccer, bocce (similar to lawn bowls) and badminton. "Ayden is constantly teaching me something each week at programs, whether it's how to complete a Rubix cube in 48 seconds, or anything sporty! He is always a joy in our programs delivering the vibes and the DJ tunes each week!" Community Sprot and Recreation Coordinator Candela Ferreyra Bas stated. Due to being a stand-out in the Huddle Up! Seniors cohort and a proud First Nations boy, Ayden was invited to the Guard of Honour for this North Melbourne Kangaroos Indigenous Round. Ayden attended the amazing experience with his younger brother Riley, who from that day, became a member of Roo Squad. Since his awesome experiences with The Huddle and at North Melbourne Kangaroos games, Ayden is a convert to the football club. Recently Ayden, his brother Riley, and his father Scott attended the Round 13 game versing the Giants to show their support for the club. Staff and volunteers at The Huddle admire Ayden’s commitment to the Huddle Up! Program. The energy he brings to each session with a big smile on his face makes The Huddle staff excited to see him each week! Previous Next

< Back Community Camp - Wyndham 2024 North Melbourne Football Club Community Camp Previous Next

< Back Aida's Voice Claudie Groves 19 Oct 2023 River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice Aida is the first to complete two rounds of Voice Your Voice, a collaborative and hands-on advocacy program delivered by The Huddle to local secondary and VCAL students. Like her introductory experience in 2022, this year’s initiative encouraged Aida and her peers at River Nile School to think bigger than just awareness-raising, and to think about what it truly means to feel safe, valued, and included in society. Together, this group of young women not only spoke about the issues that are commonly faced by people of refugee and migrant backgrounds, but also – and more powerfully – explored ways to mobilise communities and build capacity for meaningful social action in this regard. They participated in several workshops with Voice Your Voice throughout their third semester, creating short video campaigns on topics of their own choosing. “My group focused on racism, which is a problem many of us face every day due to our hijabs and skin colour.” “Being able to talk about something so persistent, hurtful and wrong is really important, and advocating for change means a lot to those of us who have personally experienced racism.” Last year, Aida and her team worked on a media project about cyberbullying, which they argue is just as pervasive and challenging. The issue’s popularity and resonance also meant that this team grew to be the largest in Voice Your Voice’s history. “Everyone played a role, whether that was doing voiceovers, writing the script, editing or starring in the actual video.” “I really want to thank The Huddle for providing us with this opportunity as people who are new to Australia.” Voice Your Voice aims to inspire students like Aida, giving them the tools necessary to self-advocate and contribute to cohesive communities where all feel they belong. Previous Next

< Back YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. ​ Previous Next

NBA Math Hoops is an online and in-person board game and curriculum, aligned to the Victorian and Australian Curriculum, that engages Levels 4-7 in fundamental mathematics through the game of basketball. NBA Math Hoops: List Register to attend free online training and secure your class set of board games, lesson plans, and resources. You will receive all materials for FREE after attending training. Upcoming Training Sessions NBA Math Hoops Training - Wednesday 4 Dec Wed, 04 Dec Via Zoom 04 Dec 2024, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Via Zoom 04 Dec 2024, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Via Zoom You'll need to join one of our NBA Math Hoops training sessions (via zoom) in order to secure your class set of board games. RSVP NBA Math Hoops Training - Date TBC Date and time is TBD Online (normally 4-5pm) Date and time is TBD Online (normally 4-5pm) Date and time is TBD Online (normally 4-5pm) You'll need to join one of our NBA Math Hoops training sessions (via zoom) in order to secure your class set of board games. Drop your details below and we'll let you know when the next one hour training session is tipping off! RSVP

< Back African Music & Cultural Festival 2023 Claudie Groves 24 Nov 2023 Celebrating 10 years of the African Music and Cultural Festival This past weekend, The Huddle and North Melbourne Football Club were honoured to sponsor a 10th straight African Music and Cultural Festival. As in previous years, we enthusiastically brought the sport, and over 35 African countries and communities generously contributed music, food, fashion, film, dance, and art to the spring event. It was lively, full of feel-good moments, and particularly memorable in 2023. Many of our friendly staff were on-hand at Federation Square over these three days, facilitating an AFL skills-themed inflatable for young and old as well as a ‘Roo Squad Spin to Win,’ where participants had the chance to win a slew of great Kangaroos prizes. While all were enjoying the sun and fun, it was Kanga, the much-loved club mascot, who put the biggest smiles on faces in our area. The African Music and Cultural Festival also presented an opportunity for us to further cement and build on several of The Huddle’s key tenets – proudly learning, growing, and belonging in a city that privileges understanding, unity, respect, education, and cross-cultural awareness. Locals and visitors alike were treated to live performances on the main stage, in addition to African street food and market stalls along the Yarra, all with these values in mind. “If diversity is the heartbeat of Melbourne, then the African Music and Cultural Festival makes the heart beat with rhythm.” Cam McLeod – The Huddle CEO Both The Huddle and North Melbourne Football Club were equally humbled to receive a Service Award at the weekend, acknowledging our ongoing support of this inclusive and spirited annual event. We would like to extend a big thank you to Fred Alale AM, Gary Lee OAM, and the whole team at the African Music and Cultural Festival for having us along for the ride for the past 10 years. It continues to be both a joy and huge privilege. Previous Next

< Back 3x3 Hustle Melbourne City Slam Previous Next

< Back Sanhae's Spring Emily Phu 31 Oct 2023 2023 Spring Huddle Holiday's Program Huddle Holidays is a free school holiday program that provides young people with opportunities to try new experiences and develop their skills and capacity across social inclusion, health, emotional wellbeing, and leadership. Throughout this Spring School Holiday program at The Huddle, Senior participants had the opportunity to go to Strike Bowling & Laser Tag, Bounce, and to compete in the Huddle’s Basketball Slam, offering a diverse range of activities to keep them engaged and excited. School holidays can be a period where young people may disengage from safe social activities. The Huddle aims to contribute to the reduction of anti-social behaviour by providing activities to engage young people throughout the school break. Further, with the rising cost of living, young people may face financial barriers to access engaging activities, making Huddle Holidays a free option for both the youth and their families. “Huddle Holidays was very fun, very inspiring, and very convenient because you brought us there and brought us back.” Sanhae has attended Huddle programs over 60 times (including Huddle Holidays and Huddle Up!) since joining in 2021. He initially attended Huddle Holidays for the sports tournaments but attended every Senior program this time round. “I had a lot of fun hanging out with the staff members who did Bowling with us and played Dodgeball at Bounce with us.” When asked why Sanhae chose to come to Huddle Holidays for the first time, they shared that “…we are getting older, so there’s not a lot of opportunities left. I also don’t have anything else to do on the holidays. With costs and transport covered, I just had to show up - so it was fun! It was also nice to hang out with friends and make new friends too.” Sanhae will continue to engage in the Huddle’s program, including Huddle Up! at Werribee Secondary College and Huddle Holidays. He is more interested in attending future Huddle Holidays to experience different activities during their school holidays, which speaks to the program's long-lasting impact and appeal to the young people of the North Melbourne, Flemington, and Wyndham communities. Previous Next