Youngsters from Alcester, Bidford and Welford enjoy club now in its 44th year
IN 1980 a youth club opened in Alcester and 44 years later that club is now so popular it needs more volunteers to help youngsters enjoy time together in a safe place which is full of fun and friendship.
Volunteer youth club assistants are welcome to join the party at The Depot Youth Club in Alcester for Tuesday and Thursday evenings where 150 young people gather to chat, laugh, play table tennis, pool or enjoy one of the many varied menu delights on offer like curry, lasagna, shepherd’s pie, spaghetti Bolognese and the hot favourite at the moment – cheese and beans on toast.
“Children are my passion,” said Becky Gribben, youth club leader. “We have children from Bidford, Welford, Salford Priors and Studley and of course Alcester but we are looking for more volunteers. We currently have six but it would be nice to double that to 12. All you need is a lot of enthusiasm, a good sense of humour and the ability to supervise youngsters.”
The Tuesday and Thursday evenings are chosen to allow for the following age groups to be catered for: year 6,7 and 8 (10 to 13 years-olds) and year 9,10 and 11,13,14 and 15 with some aged 16 (13 to 16 year-olds) - in general terms.
While there’s a lot of goodwill and high spirits at the youth club meets there’s also an educational element involved and depending on appropriateness of age and with safeguarding always a key feature, discussions do take place about important issues like child sexual exploitation, county lines, knife crime, drugs and alcohol, sex education and the joy to be had from building healthy relationships.
“We have a lot of activities going on that the children really enjoy,” said Becky. “We’ve been to Drayton Manor twice, went bowling for Christmas, we’ve had team building sessions and we even had Christmas dinner here which was great fun. If you want to volunteer why not turn-up and see for yourself - you’ll be surprised.”
For more information email Wendy at Alcester Town Council info@alcester-tc.gov.uk or telephone 01789 766084.
