Should Youth Clubs Be Brought Back?
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11 years ago I was one of many volunteers at a local youth club for disadvantaged, less abled and local young people. Funding was withdrawn and it had no option to close. Charities such as Mentivity although fantastic are far and few between. Do you think Youth Clubs should be brought back as one of many ways to help the young people of today choose a better way to live? 
I think there are still a few around but I think teens these days think it isn't cool to be seen in one. Much more fun to be out all hours getting in to trouble on the streets.
Lynibis It depends on who the leaders are and how it's run. Where I worked the kids regularly got free passes to Adventure Island at Southend on Sea. We had some cool male role models there too, one emmigrated to Japan and the others were local characters really good at sport.
EmmaWright762 I know we live in a woke age and I probably shouldn't say this but I truly believe the youth of today need more strong male role models. The sort of men they can aspire to be like.
Lynibis We had that not so long ago but the financial support was taken away and now my disability is too bad for me to help anyway. Still we live in hope that this generation will push for the clubs and mentors they so desperately need.
I think if it was clubs such as sports, dance, gymnastics, music or an activity that they would be interested in, then they would be more likely to attend. I teach teenagers and there are some that won't go no matter what, but there are plenty who would attend.
MrsCraig I joined so many clubs when I was young, Brownies and Guides, Dance School, Horse Riding, Swimming and Summer Clubs. Any excuse to get away from my family situation and I'm pretty sure it's the same for some young people today. When homelife is difficult it's better to be somewhere else.
EmmaWright762 I know of many young people who want to be away from their family situation but either they can't afford to join clubs like the ones you mentioned or there aren't any clubs at all. I know some kids who would rather just wander around the streets than go to a club, even a free one. I think more clubs for kids would be great but funding is always the main problem.
I remember when my sons were younger we looked into them going to scouts only to find there was no longer any locally. They went to plenty after school clubs bit nothing outside of school was really available. I doubt there's much more now.
I had a great time as a youngster, I was in the Brownies for a couple of years (leader of the pixies here ;)) Still got my sash full of badges somewhere. Later I went to a local teen youth club where we also had trips away etc. So sad youngsters don't experience it anymore, even sadder they don't want too.
Glitterandgold WOW, also a leader of the Pixies and in the Guides, leader of Kingfisher pack. Glad to see you on here glitter and gold, have a beautiful afternoon. 
I remember our youth club, it had a football and rugby team, I learned to play the drums there, doubt they have anything like that anymore
martinlufc5637 Where I worked there was a drum kit and stuff. I recall being very intrigued by it all and went up from the art room to see where the music was coming from. The kids couldn't wait to get stuck in.
EmmaWright762 a guy came to the centre once a week to learn us, most weeks it was only me so I learned pretty quickly, I did it for about 2 years, I got pretty good, good life skill that I have passed onto my kids, they all play and like to show off sometimes lol
martinlufc5637 Love it, that sounds great. These are the family habits that make for a strong and close knit community. I'm really glad you got something out of it and passed it on. Who knows one day it may be a grandad passing it down to grandkids
I was in the sea cadets for a while and also in the school chess club, although i am no grand master
I think besides funding, technology has played a part in killing off these types of activities
I suspect nowadays most youngsters are glued to their video games indoors rather than out and about doing physical pursuits
telmel Tell me about it, the back wall of the artroom (my old work place) was strewn with computers which the kids loved. It was good to see some of them turning their favourite game characters into artwork. Angry birds was extremely popular lol
I used to love going to our local youth club in the next village from where I grew up. We had so much fun and so many trips… midnight ice skating… roller disco’s just to name a couple. Sadly finding people to run them nowadays seems to be difficult. Such a shame
I think clubs are still active. There’s quite a few around here plus scouting and guides.
Yes most definitely. One of the reasons we've such knife crimes and antisocial behaviour. Youth clubs can provide a safe place to ho where there an alternative education to being in school
It is a little annoying how these places have all but disappeared, especially when it’s now they are most needed.
I always wonder how certain places that don’t seem to provide as important a service manage to maintain their funding, yet other things, which appear more important to me, are cut.
I belong to a Salesian parish so we still have youth club of a sort.I think they're a great idea.Also a few others near me as well.
For all of its faults there is 1 thing going for the current government which is when they were last in power they cracked all ages in terms of occupying the minds of children with Surestart and the youth clubs .Hopefully this will be restarted and teen crime will start to fall .
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