People who suggest youth clubs help with boredom are clueless

[nfg]

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

@Octavia64 I have never heard of a youth club like you describe.
All the ones I've known are essentially the pool table/basketball court/random sofas to sit on and not much else.
Near where I live one was started for the summer holidays - TWO teens turned up.
In most places there's plenty of well organised youth groups for those interested (scouts, guides, cadets, church group etc) and plenty of sports groups.
If the "troublemaker" kids are bored they could go to one of those. But they don't. They don't want too.
So why would they go to another type of youth club?

Saying that I do think the people who post on these sites forget what it was like to be a teenager, I live where I grew up and I see some people posting about kids hanging about, and I remember what they were like even if they don't!

I only went to a youth club once but it was full of the dead hard girls we were scared of so never went back. That said, it kept those dead hard girls off the streets and jumping on people for a couple of nights a week so I think youth clubs are a good idea.

The Youth club in my town does all sorts of activities organised by the youth leader including cookery. I don't think they even have a pool/table tennis table as they no longer have their own premises, so rent a room elsewhere. I only know what they do as they post photos on the local Facebook page every week. It looks fun to me - there's 2 sessions according to age. They seem to have 1 paid worker and some volunteers.

To be honest most "Youth Clubs" I see promoted on my local Facebook groups (for various different towns) are only up to age 12 or 13.
They seem to be more aimed at primary age.

I never went to a yourh club nothing would get me to go to one.
I got bullied at school and most of the bullies went to the youth club.
Some clubs work and others dont.
Im pleased im an adult now and no kids so dont have to deal with any thing about schools or clubs.

I always find it interesting in our town when it is stated that there is nothing for young people to do, together with the youth club, there is cadets, scouts, guides, rugby, football, hockey, table tennis, snooker, sports hall, swimming pool, a gaming club, cinema, skate park, large park to name but a few. There is cheap public transport to local city, beaches and countryside on their doorstep.

I grew up in a village with nothing, there was a bus once a week to the local town and that was it!

There are local charities that can help with club subscriptions etc

The local youth does have helpers there who can signpost support where needed

I think you might have misunderstood the OP. The type of youth clubs you’re talking about are very specialised, when I was a kid there were loads of general youth clubs that anyone could attend that were indeed the table tennis/pool table variety. Most of those are now gone sadly.

Those type of low life scum who vandalise stuff, run around shops swearing at customers and staff are not the ones that go to scouts, cadets etc. As their parents don't give a shit plus the uniform, trips etc cost them money.

That's my point.
They don't go to the organised "uniform" groups because they don't want too.
So why would they be interested in what is essentially the same thing just in a community centre?
They aren't.

To be honest, I was a good kid, got good grades at school, never once got into trouble, and I would never have dreamed of going to cubs or scouts or anything like that. I wouldn't have dreamed of going to any kind of youth club either. Organised fun never was for me.

I just liked hanging out with my friends, chatting, watching films, messing about in the local park. We never caused any trouble, and the things adults thought we might enjoy, we never did.

I think the teens who hang around causing trouble and vandalising things would think themselves 'too cool' for youth clubs.

In fact all they used to do round here was hang around outside it and terrorise the kids who did want to go.

A lot of kids like playing pool and table tennis a lot though, and might not get the chance at home. And for many it's primarily just a place to be with their friends - the activities aren't the main point.

I'm not saying youth clubs should aim for the bare minimum but I think even a fairly minimal club can be an attractive proposition when the alternative is either sitting in your bedroom or wandering the streets.

I liked the youth club I went to as a kid...it was run through my church and we tended to do quite organised games like capture the flag for most of it (then squash and biscuits and a prayer at the end)

I also liked the council run one I volunteered at as an adult...the kids had a choice of an organised activity (usually a craft) and then indoor football in the hall or just playing table tennis or hanging out. We also fed them healthy snacks (toasties and wraps mainly). It was for 11-14ish year olds I think.

That's not what the point of youth clubs used to be, when I went to them.
I find it hard to believe they all are

Maybe if parents actually parented there would be less vandalism/trouble

We have a youth club in my village. It was started up in response to anti social behavior problems. There has actually been a reduction in problems but I don't know if this is as a result of the club or coincidence.

They were quite strategic in their target market of just younger than the age causing problems, trying to stop the pipeline.

The activities are good. The music recording bit is very good.

It's joined up with other services.

Im quite impressed.

We get an extra bit on our town council bill to fund it

Years ago you swim for your youth club.

what?! No they’re not 😂

I thought that. I've literally never known of a youth club to offer any of that. At best, they offer a warm space and a few activities. Mostly staffed by volunteers. Mostly not very inspiring, unfortunately.