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Original poster

People who suggest youth clubs help with boredom are clueless

55 replies

nfg · 28/04/2025 10:06

Every time on the local FB Spotted pages, someone posts a photo of something vandalised by the delightful teens, there are people who say “bring back youth clubs”.

Youth clubs are crap. When I was at the age range for them, they only had a pool table, table tennis table - that’s it. Then because of them being crap, turnout dwindled and subsequently closed.

I think these people who suggest youth clubs are the answer to the boredom problem, they are clueless. Besides those who do this vandalism are not the type that go to YCs. I have replied that YCs don’t work

OP posts:
Coffeeishot · 28/04/2025 10:20

Youth clubs were just for kids/teenagers to hang out they were not some cure all, I was a youth worker years ago and youth club really helped teenagers to access support if they needed it, but mainly it was just a place to meet friends independently from parents and also gave them respite from older kids from harassing them.

thehorsesareallidiots · 28/04/2025 10:17

The youth club I went to was really good, and very popular. We had all kinds of activities. It was also a good place for flirting and engendered many a hookup.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 28/04/2025 10:16

those who do this vandalism are not the type that go to YCs

this is true, OP; there are some who'll never be reached, but I think the argument is that they hope to reach those on the cusp of unwise choices in the hope of diverting them

It's a shame that the one you went to was so poor, but they're honestly not all like that

HaddyAbrams · 28/04/2025 10:16

Sounds like you went to a crap youth club! Ours was brilliant. Table tennis. We had an arcade machine type thing. Used to take our rollerskates and skate around the hall. We did trips out. Baking. Craft. Whatever we wanted basically.

Octavia64 · 28/04/2025 10:13

I think you may have missed the point of youth clubs.

they aren’t (or mostly aren’t) to provide entertainment and occupation.

scouts, cadets, sports clubs, music organisations fo that.

youth clubs usually have a specialist youth worker there and teens who are in contact with the youth justice system (ie have been arrested/done something illegal) meet with their youth worker there.

schools can also refer teens at risk of offending to the specialist youth workers.