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:

Needmorelego · 28/04/2025 14:00

@CrownCoats so why are there so many teens you just hang around parks etc aimlessly doing "nothing"?
Why aren't they at these clubs?
I suppose as someone upthread said - you need to get them interested at an earlier age and KEEP them interested.

CrownCoats · 28/04/2025 14:03

Needmorelego · 28/04/2025 14:00

Because there are hardly any of these clubs left! They’ve progressively been defunded. And the ones that have survived are constantly battling for funding and are reliant on volunteers and good will.

Needmorelego · 28/04/2025 14:03

@CrownCoats very true.

SpoonyRedOtter · 28/04/2025 14:17

notallcupsinthecupboard · 28/04/2025 13:44

https://www.kjr-m.de/freizeiteinrichtungen/?_sfm_location_age_start=0+99&sf_paged=3
people need to expect and demand more from their government and local authorities. And not always say but where does the money come from. The link is a list of all the „youth clubs“ on offer in Munich. All free to access, all open for children / young adults from 6 to 20/21. all offering varying activities, day trips, afternoon activities, days for girls, days for boys, a safe place to meet up with friends away from home, indoor space, outdoor space. 5 pages of addresses. The organisation that runs them operates throughout Germany, was set up after the Second World War with the idea that young people needed a space to meet where they would not be politically radicalised. Freedom of speech, ideals of democracy, children’s rights and freedom of personal development very much at the core. It is a case of being willing to invest in youth, being willing to invest in something where the benefit is not immediately tangible but will hopefully have a long- term beneficial influence on the whole of society.

Not sure what your point is?

Different countries have different things. Different demographics, cultures, societies, taxes, criminal justice systems and so on.

And a very quick Internet search suggests youth clubs in Germany are suffering from limited funding and numbers attending.

SpoonyRedOtter · 28/04/2025 14:26

CrownCoats · 28/04/2025 14:03

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I went to a few youth club nights in the early 90s.

They weren't particularly appealing to me as a 'youth' and there were numerous complaints against my generation about 'hanging around in parks' and being anti-social.

It's not new. And the loss of youth clubs isn't solely to do with lack of funding, it's because they're not well-attended.

Because adults don't usually know what children/teens want to do and it's never been 'hang out with other teenagers with adults watching'.

That's almost entirely what teenagers do not want.

Which is why youth clubs often fail.

Sports/music/boxing clubs are far more successful because they appeal to interests.

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