Youth club is a club for young people between the ages of 12 and 20, especially in the United Kingdom. Youth club programs usually provide a balanced selection of outdoor activities and sports, and indoor activities such as drama, art, music, cooking, and discussion groups.
A youth club provides its members with opportunities to use their leisure time in ways that are interesting, useful, and enjoyable. But the main purpose of a youth club is to help young people to understand more about themselves and the needs of others, in an informal setting.
Types of clubs.
The membership of most clubs is made up of young people of both sexes. But there are some clubs for boys only, and a few for girls only. The type of club depends mainly on which of the main youth organizations it is sponsored by, or affiliated with. Most boys’ clubs in the United Kingdom are affiliated with the National Association of Boys’ Clubs. Most clubs for boys and girls join the National Association of Youth Clubs, and they may also be affiliated with church youth club organizations. Many of these youth clubs are organized by local education authorities, but most are run by volunteers.
Most clubs have separate groups for junior and senior members. The junior section is generally for members up to the age of 15 and opens during the earlier part of the evening. The section for the older members goes on later. The senior members take more responsibility for their own activities. Big clubs are open every night. Some of these big clubs have more than 1,000 members. Most clubs are small and open only one or a few nights a week.
Youth club activities.
Regular activities of large youth clubs may include badminton, basketball, darts, fitness and physical training classes, gymnastics, judo, pool, soccer, or table tennis. Groups of members may also meet for drama, art, and music, or to run a club magazine or hold discussions. A club may have a range of teams representing it in activities from dance to soccer, and this helps promote interclub activity. Activities outside club premises may also include cross-country running, swimming, and track and field. Many clubs arrange visits to theaters, concerts, and museums. They also make visits to see industrial processes or to learn about local government activities.
Clubs try to help each member grow into a well-balanced and responsible member of the community by providing activities that help to develop the mental, physical, and spiritual sides of his or her character. Nowadays members play an increasing part in running youth clubs. Each club has a management committee, and in many cases, half of the committee places are held by club members. An increasing number of clubs also provide the opportunity to be of service to others. Many youth club members enjoy helping other people, by doing jobs for elderly people and people with disabilities, or by helping charities.
History.
Clubs for young people were started in the late 1800’s because of the appalling conditions in which many British children lived. Many Christian people began to organize ragged schools, where such children might come to learn religion, school subjects, and discipline. The youth club grew out of this kind of organization. By 1888, the Federation of London Working Boys’ Clubs and the Manchester Working Lads’ Association had been formed. They were followed by the National Organization of Girls’ Clubs in 1911, and by the uniformed organizations, such as the Boys’ Brigade, the Church Lads’ Brigade, and the Cadets.
In 1916, the British government formed a Juvenile Organizations’ Committee. In 1939, the government created a National Youth Committee to be directly responsible for youth welfare. Today, the youth service is run by local education authorities in partnership with voluntary organizations.
