Do you know how to set up a youth club?
Posted by Phlibsy@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 17 comments
hey
Sorry for the weird title, tried my best to get the question in the group parameters
We're looking at setting up a youth club and have started fundraising.
We have the location and a lot of people willing to volunteer
Can anyone suggest any useful links to look into?
General advice?
Our village had a youth club about 10 years ago. We've spoken to the people who ran it, they're happy to give advice but they are getting quite old now and unfortunately one is in the early stages of dementia so don't want to put too much of a hassle on them.
huskydaisy@reddit
NCVO are probably going to be helpful for this: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Thankyou, I've never heard of them. Very helpful!
Dissidant@reddit
Check your local council/county websites they will almost always have documentation available which outlines the basics of setting one up
For the sake of example ;
https://youth.essex.gov.uk/
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Thankyou, I shall have a look!
RestingRichard@reddit
You will be best reaching out to your local authority as they will be best placed to offer advice, you could also look at more established youth organisations such as Scouts or Cadets and establish one of them, or link up with your local parish and work with them
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Thankyou. I'll be in touch with our parish council regarding the legal side and see if they can help. There is a massive push in our village to create more spaces for kids so I imagine they'll be happy to help
MissMimiG@reddit
You could potentially contact local schools to have a focus group type thing - you’d then know what the kids would be looking for in a youth club but you could get some volunteers who might be looking for a good reference or experience to put on future applications/UCAS forms etc.
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Cheers, we're part of the village school charity committee so hopefully that shouldn't be too tricky!
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Yes I have set up 3 scout groups in the UK.
Scouts HQ will give solid support. But it does take effort to get it up and running.
Once it's up and running it can often (not always) look after itself. I take an active role in my current unit but that's through choice really.
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Thankyou. I'll speak with our local scout leader, they use the venue weve secured. Again thanks, that's not a route I'd even thought of
DameKumquat@reddit
If there's any documentation from the old one, like a charity governing document, that will make your life a lot easier. Or if you can be a new venue attached to another established youth club.
Setting up a new organisation, especially one which needs safeguarding and training etc, is a huge pain, to be avoided where at all possible.
Even getting a Community Interest bank account is tough as most banks pretend they haven't heard of them (it's basically a business account without the costs, for volunteer groups and charities)
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Thankyou. I'm good friends with an accountant so I'll try and pick his brains.
BeardedBaldMan@reddit
I'd suggest you start with looking at how to essentially obtain a full pack of procedures & policies by contacting one of the overarching groups. That gives you the solid base for sorting out liability insurance, criminal record checks and will set out safeguarding policies etc.
Careless_Soup_109@reddit
This. You either take safeguarding seriously as a founding principle, or you run into all sorts of pain.
Jimmy Savile still has victims years on: well-meaning but clueless people who don't understand legally what working with young people entails.
Phlibsy@reddit (OP)
Yes, this is our main priority. Doing it correctly. The fundraising were doing so far is to cover things like DBS, first aid, insurance etc. We're doing a local village fayre and should raise about 1.5k (stats from previous years) It's just a minefield
Baby8227@reddit
I’ve just picked this up on line. Your post will probably be deleted as this is easily findable on line;
Initial Planning and Legal Structure. Identify Need: Consult young people on what they want to avoid creating redundant services.
Establish Structure: Start as an unincorporated association, which is simple, voluntary-run, and ideal for small groups.
Register with the Charity Commission if income exceeds £5,000.
Committee: Form a committee to manage finances and governance, including a chair, secretary, and treasurer.
Constitution: Draft a governing document defining the group's purpose and rules.
Safety and Regulations
Safeguarding: This is paramount. Appoint a trained safeguarding lead and establish clear child protection policies.
DBS Checks: Ensure all staff and volunteers undergo Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks before beginning work.
Insurance: Obtain public liability insurance to cover activities and accidents.
Practical Set-Up
Venue: Find a safe, affordable, and accessible location (e.g., community halls, schools, or religious centers).
Funding: Look for local council grants, community foundations, or local business support. Resources: Utilize templates like the NYA Youth Club in a Box for planning, risk assessments, and registration forms.
Activities and Engagement
Programming: Plan varied activities (e.g., sports, games, arts, or trips) that focus on social interaction and skill-building.
Volunteers: Recruit passionate individuals, ensuring they are well-trained and valued.
Promotion: Advertise in local shops, community centers, schools, and on social media.
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