Is 22 too old to attend a youth club?

[AlePock]

I’m thinking of getting my 22 year old son to go to a youth club because he has few friends and he wants to make some new ones. I went to a youth club when I was younger on a Friday night but it was mainly under 16s. Do they do them for older kids too?

Following for the deletion message

You don't mention that he actually wants new friends. Perhaps he doesn't . As his Mum you need to back off and let him decide what he wants in the way of friendships.

If he is working Mon-Wed, he has loads of time on his hands. I worked extra hours in a busy bar at that age (he could do Thurs-Sat night? ). That's a good way of getting out without the pressure of going out. It'll help loads with social skills. There are loads of jobs out there.

I met my husband this way!

@AlePock I’ll post a link for you for young adult groups. It’s a website for finding social groups in your area of interest or age group.

I have used meetup here in Australia and it’s pretty good.

Find out what's happening in Young Adults Meetup groups around the world and start meeting up with the ones near you.
Join Young Adults groups

www.meetup.com/en-AU/topics/young-adults/gb/

@AlePock Below is a copy and paste of some of the groups on meetup in the UK.

Largest Young Adults groups
1
Social Infinity London
7,745 member | London, United Kingdom
Mo
Organized by Mo
2
Fun Young London Socials
5,909 Fun Young Londoners | London, United Kingdom
Amiel
Organized by Amiel
3
Young Professionals Socials in Manchester
1,956 Young Professionals | Manchester, United Kingdom
Eddy Davies
Organized by Eddy Davies
4
The Young Africans (20s and 30s)
1,758 Members | London, United Kingdom
Landry
Organized by Landry
5
Worcestershire Friends
1,756 Friends | Worcester, United Kingdom
Becky
Organized by Becky
6
Young, Black & Female
1,601 Members | London, United Kingdom
Tolu
Organized by Tolu
7
Brighton 20s & 30s Vegans
1,283 Members | Brighton, United Kingdom
James Foskett
Organized by James Foskett
8
Living Room Social
1,095 Members | London, United Kingdom
Living Room Well Being
Organized by Living Room Well Being
9
Eastbourne 20s and 30s
923 Members | Eastbourne, United Kingdom
KC
Organized by KC
10
Coventry 20s & 30s Social
883 The cool cats | Coventry, United Kingdom
Ben Fellows
Organized by Ben Fellows
Show all

That's exactly what I was going to say.

A bar job, or working in retail, where lots of young people work is a great way to meet friends.

Or take up a hobby - like a running club.

Youth club - nah.

The ramblers used to have local groups for under 35 year olds, maybe contact your local walking group. Or something like meetup if it's active in your area? A couple of places where I've lived had board game cafés where they have had open evenings, and when I was about his age I tried everything from ballroom dancing to drama to hospital radio to evening classes and had a great social life though I think COVID and the sheer pressure of life right now is taking its toll.

Pay for him to do a mountaineering qualification he will make loads of friends one one if those and he can use the qualification in holidays etc to lead groups. Many good courses if you google. Not cheap mauve 1k but worth it.

Is he at college/University? Do you mean the student Union?

And at 22 he's definitely not an adolescent!

This ^

Meet Up is a good place to make friends and acquaintances via a mutual love of the same activity.

This has to be one of the strangest things I've seen in Mumsnet. Unless he has SEN?

He's an adult! He could be married with kids - plural - and you'd be a grandmother. He doesn't need youth groups. He needs to get himself a life. I don't mean that cruelly, but at 22 he should be out and about, working, maybe travelling, doing things that interest him.

What is he interested in? Point him in the direction of looking for meet-ups doing that. Or what would he like to give a try? Again, point him in the direction of looking for groups doing that. He should do the looking btw, not you!

Also why only 3 days a week working (unless some medical/MH issue)? If he's ever going to live alone, he needs more income than that!

I'm quite surprised tbh. At 22 I'd moved to another country, one that didn't speak English, was working two jobs and was living alone. Not everybody is the same - I had a friend with two kids at that age for example - so the idea that a 22 needs a youth group or a group for "older adolescents" is quite astounding. He's a fully grown man!

At 22 i had 2 kids!
He is a grown man! Not an 'older kid'. Not an adolescent. A grown man.
Stop babying him. Would have graduated from university if he went straight after college/ sixth form.
He needs to stand on his own two feet. Stop trying to find some sort of group will reinforce this bizarre notion you have he is an older child/ adolescent. You won't find any. And it is not doing him any favours.

Not surprised he isn't having any luck on tinder, he'd creep me out too, and that's just from what you've said here! I get the feeling there are other red flags too....

It’s sweet you’re all trying to help, but the OP is pulling your leg.

Maybe try something like Round table? H might be a bit young but it could still be a way to meet people or get out and do different activities.

I don’t know why everyone is being so mean and judgmental. Maybe she is seeing her son is lonely and is trying to help him. Maybe he is young for his age. Why not all give helpful suggestions instead of critisising. Not everyone is that mature or independent in their early 20s.

I was wondering.....

He isn't an "older adolsecent", he's a fully grown adult, and has been for a good few years.

The scout association has a 'youth section' for 18 to 25 year olds called Network. He could see if there a group near by.

AlePock There is 'young Ramblers' association which might suit him. Alternatively, does he like long distance walking. There were quite a lot of young people doing the Ultra Challenges run by Action Challenge last year. People tend to group up in the walks and get to know people, often then choosing to book further challenges together.

When I was 22 I was one of the grown-up helpers at youth club! (Volunteer youth support worker)

Having said that - churches often have youth clubs (secondary school age), and young adults clubs (19-25ish). Unless he's religious he'd probably be bored though.

He could join a hobby group instead? I used to go to a language group in a pub for a bit - it was great, everyone would have a few glasses of wine and practise their language skills (eg, I'd talk Spanish to a Spaniard and he'd talk back in English and we'd occasionally correct each other).

He’s 22. Leave him to sort himself out.

It sounds like the series with Ronny Corbet and his mother where he worked in a library. It was called, 'Sorry.'

We've got a local one for you get adults up to 24.

They help with qualifications, activities etc.

Completely fine. Just need to find the right one.

Younger adults