Creating opportunities, building trust and empowering young people in Nechells

The Hotspot’s Story

Founded in Nechells in 2024 by three friends—Osman, Abdullah and Yasin —The Hotspot began with a simple belief: every young person deserves access to opportunities, positive role models and a safe place to belong.

The founders started by volunteering their own time and personally funding sessions, driven by a shared commitment to supporting young people in their community. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a vital local provision, reaching more than 4,800 young people in just two years.

This work responds to significant local need. According to Ofsted’s Nechells neighbourhood profile, 83% of children live in low-income families. For many families, access to affordable activities, positive experiences and trusted support can be limited. The Hotspot works to bridge this gap by providing safe spaces, consistent mentoring and opportunities that young people might otherwise struggle to access.

The Hotspot’s long-term ambition is to empower young people to become mentors, employers and community leaders, creating opportunities not only for themselves but also for the next generation.

The Role of HAF in their Journey

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme holds a special place in The Hotspot’s story. It was their first funded event and marked an important milestone in their development, helping us reach thousands of young people and families.

At its peak, their HAF provision has supported more than 180 young people per day. It remains one of their most anticipated programmes, providing vital holiday support for families who might otherwise have few accessible options.

For many young people in Nechells, HAF camps are the only summer provision available to them. The Hotspots programme offers much more than holiday childcare: it provides a safe and welcoming environment where children can build friendships, remain active, explore new interests and develop confidence.

What They Deliver

The Hotspot delivers more than 20 hours of activity across six weekly youth sessions, combining structured activities with ongoing mentoring and personal development. Their wider provision includes dedicated girls’ sessions, trips, residential experiences and careers opportunities.

Their HAF camps offer a diverse programme designed to engage young people with different interests and abilities, including:

• Sport and physical activity: football, basketball, handball, rugby, dodgeball, benchball, boxing and wrestling.
• New experiences: archery, slip-and-slide activities and other engaging group challenges.
• Creativity and recreation: arts and crafts, games and opportunities to socialise.
• Personal development: mentoring, teamwork, communication, leadership and confidence-building.

The Hotspot welcome boys and girls aged 6–16 from all backgrounds, with many of their participants coming from the East African community.

They typically engage around 120 young people per day, with demand increasing further during HAF camps. This highlights both the need for their services and the importance of sustained investment in accessible holiday provision.

A Different Approach: Young People as Leaders

What makes The Hotspot’s HAF programme distinctive is the relationships at its heart.

Their trusted mentors and coaches work alongside young people to deliver activities, creating an environment in which children feel supported, encouraged and understood. Rather than simply attending sessions, young people are also given opportunities to help deliver the camp themselves.

By taking on responsibilities, supporting activities and working with others, participants develop valuable leadership, teamwork and communication skills. These experiences help young people recognise their own potential and understand how they can contribute positively to their community.

Crucially, their HAF provision builds on relationships established through their weekly youth sessions. The trusted connections formed during term time continue throughout the holidays, providing consistency, familiarity and ongoing support.

This approach reflects their wider ambition: to create a pathway through which young people can progress from participants to volunteers, mentors and future leaders.

Building Trust with Families and the Community

For local parents, The Hotspot HAF programme has become a lifeline.

Families need to know that their children are safe, welcomed and supported, particularly during school holidays when other childcare and activity options may be limited. At The Hotspot, that reassurance comes from the relationships we have built within Nechells over time.

Parents know the team and their deep-rooted connections with local mosques help strengthen trust and engagement. Their understanding of the community, its cultural nuances and the needs of local families informs how they approach safeguarding, communication and programme delivery.

They aim to ensure every young person feels comfortable participating, regardless of their background or circumstances. By combining professional care with genuine community relationships, they create an environment where children can feel a sense of belonging and families feel confident accessing their support.

Improving Access to Healthy Food and New Experiences

Food is an important part of the HAF programme, alongside enrichment and physical activity.

For some of the young people they support, affordable and convenient fast food is a familiar part of daily life. The Hotspot holiday camps provide opportunities to experience fresh, natural and less processed foods that they may not regularly encounter.

By introducing children to different food experiences in a welcoming setting, they can help broaden their understanding of healthy eating and encourage curiosity about nutrition. Just as importantly, the programme helps families access food support during school holidays, when household budgets can come under additional pressure.

Their approach recognises that wellbeing involves more than physical activity alone. Access to nutritious food, positive relationships, meaningful experiences and a safe environment all contribute to young people’s development.

How HAF Funding Has Helped Us Grow

HAF funding has played a significant role in strengthening The Hotspot’s capacity and improving the quality of their provision.

It has enabled members of their team to access training in safeguarding, best practice, youth engagement and mental health. It has also supported staff development in delivering activities such as rugby, broadening the range of experiences they can offer.

Alongside improving their delivery, HAF has helped The Hotspot access further funding opportunities and resources, supporting the development and expansion of their services.

Importantly, this investment has helped them grow their team and create progression opportunities for young people who have demonstrated commitment through volunteering. Those who have become trusted, consistent figures within their community can begin to take on greater responsibility and explore future roles in youth work and leadership.

For The Hotspot, this represents the wider value of HAF funding: it supports immediate holiday provision while also helping to build the skills, relationships and infrastructure needed for long-term community impact.

Looking Ahead

The Hotspot began with three friends investing their own time and resources because they believed young people in Nechells deserved better access to opportunities.

Today, that commitment has developed into a growing community provision that has reached more than 4,800 young people, supported families during school holidays and created opportunities for young people to discover their strengths.

However, demand continues to exceed the places available, particularly during HAF camps. The Hotspot want to build on the progress made so far, reach more families and continue improving the quality and breadth of their offer.

“Our vision is for every young person we support to have the opportunity to grow in confidence, develop new skills and see a positive future for themselves. We also want to create a lasting cycle of opportunity in which young people who benefit from our provision return as volunteers, mentors, employers and leaders.” The Hotspot Team