Hi, my name is Judy Caine, co-founder member of the Oakley Rangers Youth Music Club (2007).

The youth club was formed in 2006 to help build confidence and self-esteem in our young people ... never more needed since the COVID pandemic. It is the unique brainchild of founder Paul Balmer. The Oakley Rangers (aged 10-19) get free music lessons in exchange for doing monthly litter picks on our estate, tree and bulb planting and charity gigs to raise money for local good causes. This gives them a sense of ownership, pride in their community as they make a real difference to the place in which they live. The group is run by volunteers, myself and Paul Balmer, with much help from parents.

Oakley Vale is a very diverse estate on which 17 different languages are spoken. Currently in the Rangers we have represnetatives from Ukriane, Romania, Poland, England, Mongolia and in the past have had young people from Zimbabwe, Milawi and Bangladesh. We welcome all regardless of background or ability - including those suffering with their mental health and we are fully accessible to those with mobility issues.

We are struggling financially at the moment and need funds to pay for room hire, insurance, membership of the Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs not to mention replacement of equipment. We supply as many instruments as we can for our young people so that not having an instrument does not become a barrier for them to join us.

The Rangers are Corby's most successful Youth Music Group and over the last 18 years have helped over 100 local teenagers find thier vioce and develop into confident young people. They have won awards locally and nationally for their environmental and community work and featured on BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ as ‘BBC Music Day Unsung Heroes’. Check out https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3s1sw4sbHGfhs4kqvRZNS4S/unsung-heroes for more details of the Unsung Heros Listed on this link unde Paul Balmer. There are some great comments from the young people about why this club is so important to them.

If we cannot raise funds we may have to close the club. This would be such a shame after 18 years and it would be devastating for all concerned.

Please help us if you can.

If you live locally we would be happy to offer you free tickets to our next gig, and/or you would be welcome to join us on our next litter pick or tree planting event.

Thank you.