Our Impact
How we measure what matters.
The Problem We See
Too many young people in St Leonards face barriers to reaching their potential. Most activities cost more than families can afford, creating a divide between those who can access opportunities and those who can't. There aren't enough safe spaces where young people can explore their interests and build skills without judgment or financial pressure.
Beyond access, we see disconnection. Young people are disconnected from nature, from understanding where food comes from, from creative outlets that let them express who they are, and from the community that could support them. Talent and capability go undiscovered because there's nowhere to develop them. Families struggle to connect with each other, especially newcomers or those facing challenges, leading to isolation that affects everyone.
"My kids were stuck on their phones all day. Everything round here costs too much and they didn't really have anywhere to go. Now they actually want to leave the house."
Parent
St Leonards
When young people don't have opportunities to discover what they're capable of, everyone loses - the individual, their family, and the community as a whole.
What We Do
We create multiple pathways for young people to discover their strengths. Through Sparks Football Club, we offer weekly training for all abilities with professional coaching in a supportive environment. We run year-round now, including through winter, building not just fitness and teamwork but fundamental confidence.
Green Arena Gardening Club provides hands-on STEAM learning in what was once a dumping ground and is now a thriving community garden. Children learn about food systems and environmental cycles while developing patience, responsibility, and connection to the earth. It's education that sticks because they can taste what they've grown.
Our Kings Rd Music Studio, opening in early 2026, will provide a professional recording and production space with mentorship from experienced musicians. It's a platform for voices that deserve to be heard, giving young people access to equipment and expertise that would otherwise be completely out of reach.
Beyond structured programmes, our community events and gatherings create moments that matter. We hold celebrations that recognise achievement, provide experiences many families couldn't otherwise afford, and create spaces where real connections form and community strengthens.
All of this is underpinned by principles we never compromise:
Accessible
Free or low cost
Inclusive
Welcoming all abilities and backgrounds
Consistent
Every week, year-round
Quality
Experienced leaders, proper equipment, real opportunities
Community-owned
Run by locals for locals
The Changes We Create
What Happens Immediately
Over 200 families now engage with us annually. We've impacted more than 1,000 young people since we began, delivering over 50 sessions each year with the dedication of more than 20 volunteers. We've built three major programmes from grassroots demand and created dozens of community events and experiences that bring people together.
What Changes Over Time
For young people, we see increased confidence and self-belief taking root. They discover talents and interests they didn't know they had. Physical fitness and healthy habits develop naturally. Social skills strengthen as friendships form across programmes and age groups. Most importantly, young people develop a sense of belonging and community, along with concrete skills they can build on - in sport, gardening, and soon music production.
"My son was so shy he wouldn't even look at the ball the first few weeks. Now he's the first one running onto the pitch every Tuesday. At school he's terrified of getting it wrong, but at Sparks he just tries."
Parent
Sparks Football Club
Families gain access to quality activities they can actually afford. They connect with other families facing similar joys and challenges. Parents feel pride in their children's growth, often telling us they see changes at home they didn't expect. They find a support network and community they didn't know they needed, and discover safe, trusted spaces for their children where they don't have to worry.
"My daughter used to say she hated vegetables. Now she grows them and can't wait to eat what she's harvested. Gardening club has changed how our whole family thinks about food."
Parent
Green Arena
The community itself transforms. We've literally transformed physical spaces - a dumping ground became a garden, an empty shop is becoming a studio. Social cohesion increases as people who were neighbours become friends. Young people become more engaged rather than disconnected. We provide visible proof that community-led change actually works, creating a model for grassroots development that others can learn from.
The Lasting Transformation
At the individual level, young people reach their potential in ways they and their families never imagined possible. They gain confidence to pursue education, careers, and creative paths. They develop lifelong healthy habits and community connections. The skills and experiences we provide open doors that might have stayed closed forever.
At the community level, St Leonards becomes stronger, more connected, more resilient. A culture of support and possibility replaces resignation. Young people stay engaged with their community rather than disconnecting or leaving. Most powerfully, the community begins to believe in itself and its young people - and that belief becomes self-fulfilling.
"We came to one event just to see what Progress Network was about. Three years later, we're at every event."
Family
St Leonards
Theory of Change at a Glance
THE CHALLENGE
Limited access to affordable activities • Disconnection from nature & creativity • Untapped potential • Social isolation • Lack of safe spaces for growth
WHAT WE PROVIDE
SPORT
(Sparks)
NATURE
(Green Arena)
CREATIVITY
(Music Studio)
COMMUNITY
(Events)
Underpinned by: Accessibility • Inclusion • Consistency • Quality • Community Ownership
IMMEDIATE RESULTS
200+ families served annually • 1,000+ young people impacted • 50+ sessions per year • 20+ volunteers • 3 major programmes
SHORT-TERM CHANGES
YOUNG PEOPLE:
Confidence ↑ • Skills ↑ • Fitness ↑ • Friendships ↑ • Belonging ↑
FAMILIES:
Access to activities ↑ • Support networks ↑ • Pride ↑ • Safe spaces ↑
COMMUNITY:
Social cohesion ↑ • Transformed spaces • Engaged youth • Proof that community-led change works
LONG-TERM IMPACT
INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION:
Young people reach their potential • Doors open to education, careers, creative paths • Lifelong healthy habits • Skills that create opportunities
COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION:
St Leonards stronger & more connected • Culture of support & possibility • Youth engaged not disconnected • Community believes in itself
THE VISION
Every young person in St Leonards thriving • A community that believes in itself and its young people • A model for grassroots development across the UK
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
How We Know It's Working
We measure impact at every stage of our Theory of Change - from immediate outputs to long-term transformation. This means tracking both the numbers and the stories, both the data and the human change that numbers alone can't capture.
Immediate Outputs
We count the basics: families engaged, sessions delivered, volunteers contributing, programmes running. These numbers tell us we're reaching people consistently and building something sustainable. They're the foundation that makes everything else possible.
Short-Term Changes
We track participation patterns: Are children returning week after week? Are young people taking on leadership roles? Are families bringing siblings, friends, neighbours? We notice when a shy child starts leading warm-ups, when a parent becomes a volunteer, when someone who came once keeps coming back. These patterns show us confidence building, skills developing, and community forming.
Long-Term Transformation
We document the deeper changes: young people pursuing education or creative paths influenced by our programmes, families whose lives look fundamentally different, volunteers who've gained leadership skills they use elsewhere, physical spaces transformed from neglect to community hubs. We collect testimonials to understand what's actually changing in people's lives.
Community-Level Impact
We observe whether St Leonards itself is changing: Are more people connected? Is there visible transformation of physical spaces? Are other organisations learning from our model? Do young people who leave return to contribute? Is the community's belief in itself and its young people growing?
The Numbers
These numbers tell one story. But the human stories tell another, deeper truth.
Looking Ahead
By 2027
- Music studio operational and serving 50+ young people regularly
- 300 families engaged annually across all programmes
- 30+ regular volunteers
- Sustainable funding model ensuring long-term stability
- At least one young person employed or mentoring within our programmes
By 2030
- Recognised as a model for grassroots youth development across the UK
- Multiple young people pursuing careers influenced by our programmes
- Truly self-sustaining with diverse income streams
- Continued expansion based on community need and demand
- Measurable improvements in community cohesion metrics
Forever
- Young people reaching their potential
- Families finding their community
- St Leonards thriving
- All of us moving onwards and upwards together
Every young person in St Leonards deserves the chance to thrive.
Help us make it happen.