Going back to their youth for... youths
TWO sisters from Hunwick want to recreate for the youth of today something they enjoyed as children, a youth club.
Kelly Smith, 35, and Danielle Cunningham, 29, said they wouldn’t be the people they are today if it wasn’t for the youth club at Hunwick Community Centre that they went to in the 1980s.
The youth club finished in 1995 but the sisters, who both work in youth services, want to restore it to its glory for the current young people.
Kelly, chairman of Hunwick Community Association and a mother of two sons aged 17 and four, said: “In its heyday the youth club was the place to be but young people now are really missing out.
“Alright we didn’t have that much but it was still fantastic. To be able to do something for today’s young people in the village, especially as we probably have more than ever before, is really important to us.
“Our generation have got great memories of the youth club and enjoying ourselves in the community centre. We want today’s young people to have memories of their own when they get to our age.”
A dedicated group of seven youths led the application process and last week received £2,989 from the Youth opportunity Fund to help launch the club.
Danielle said: “This has been led by the young people, they had to fill in the application and decided what they wanted.
There hasn’t been a youth club for a long time, we’re not expecting droves of young people at first although it would be nice.
“Young people are bored of hanging out on the streets and in the park.”
Kelly said: “They had some fantastic ideas although some of them were a bit ambitious.
“The boys wanted a river slide while the girls were after a pool.
“What they really want though is somewhere they can socialise and be safe where they also have some ownership.
“We took the young people to Ikea a few weeks ago with James Deacon-Brown, a youth activities coordinator for 2D, to buy furniture.
“James has been fantastic as has Hunwick Community Association who have been enthusiastic throughout.
“The biggest thank you must go to the young people though because without their interest none of this would have happened.
“It would be nice that once it’s up we get more young people coming along and we get more parents volunteering to help.
“I’m excited about it and can’t wait for it to get going.”
The youth club will meet every Wednesday with a session for eight to 12-year-olds running from 6pm to 7pm followed until 9pm by older youths. The club will feature a pool table, relaxing areas and TV. Kelly said there would also be sexual health advice available and the youths could meet with drug and alcohol workers if they chose.
She said: “I want it to become a one stop shop for youth services in Hunwick and that’s what the young people have asked for as well.
“It’ll start as one night a week but if we get enough helpers there’s no reason why it couldn’t be put on more frequently.” The youth club will be officially launched on Saturday, January 23, at Hunwick community Centre open day with first session starting on Wednesday, January 27.
The open day will run from noon to 3pm and will welcome anyone into the community centre to have a look at the facilities, including a gym.
Kelly said: “For the past year, the association has been focused on renovating the building. Our ultimate goal is a new building but at the moment we’re just making the best of what we’ve got.
The open day will be the re-launch of our facilities and all are welcome.”