Want to set up a village youth club? We’ll help (From Worcester News)

Want to set up a village youth club? We’ll help

8:50pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News

VOLUNTEERS from three villages near Worcester have creteed a guide to help other communities establish youth clubs.

Lower Broadheath, Clifton-on-Teme and Martley have all established volunteer-run youth clubs, with support from the district council, county council, Malvern Hills Community Safety Partnership and Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Youth Services, during the past 18 months.

Now organisers from those villages have now helped to produce A Guide To Starting A Youth Club – which they say is a short, simple and comprehensive handbook with lots of tips.

Councillor Phil Grove from Malvern Hills said: “People in those three rural communities approached us for help because the young people there wanted more activities in their area.

“Our community services officers advised them about how to get volunteers, put them in touch with local policing teams and organised volunteer training. The communities also helped each other during the process of creating their youth clubs.

“But one of the most important factors in setting up a successful youth club is to involve young people right from the start so that the club grows up from them. And this can mean getting them involved in the management of the club.

“This is an important contribution to improving the wellbeing of teenagers, which is one of the district council’s key priorities.”

Pat Owen, leader at Martley Youth Club, said: “This guide is fantastic. It includes practical information which will help anyone who wants to run a youth club as it includes everything from recruiting volunteers to fund-raising.”

For more details, see malvern hills.gov.uk/youthclubguide.