Wickham Youth Club
The club's aim is to provide a safe, supervised meeting place for local young people and to offer art and handcraft activities, indoor and outdoor games, activities to help the community and each other. It also aims to involve young people in decision-making and running the Club, working with similar organisations and agencies.
Between 30 and 50 children and young people, aged 8 to 15, come to the club for games and informal activities on one or two evenings per week, supervised by local volunteers.
We have been fortunate in getting generous grants from the Parish, Winchester City, and County Council in the past two years, and have been able to buy quite a range of sports and handicrafts equipment and musical instruments.
There are very few organised evening activities in Wickham for this age range. The centre of the Village appears to be thriving in the evening with a range of restaurants and pubs, but some children feel excluded. The Youth Club's evening friendly and informal leisure-time is the highlight of the week for them.
Who can join, when is it, and how much?
The Club meets on Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 6.00 and 8.00 in the Meon and Victory Rooms at the rear of the Community Centre. During summer months the rear car park is used for football and other games - in the winter we use the Long Room and occasionally the Main Hall as well. Children and young people aged between 8 and 15 who live in the Parish District of Wickham can join the Club. Thursday evenings, in just the Meon Room, is for young people aged 12 to 15 – it aims to be a fairly laid-back socialising session, with lots of music, pool and other indoor and computer games.
There is no joining fee, but a charge of 50p per evening for each member.
Outings
The highlight of the year has been the annual visit to Paultons Park, near Southampton- the biggest leisure venue in the area. About 50 children and their volunteer helpers have an amazing but exhausting day out. There have been local cinema visits, and we want to organise visits to other local attractions. To do this we need a few extra volunteers-parents or other helpers- who usually get in without charge.
Events
Several times each year, the Club holds an event such as a Disco, ‘Battle of the Bands’ Table Top Sale, or other fundraising event. These are fun events, but also show that members contribute to the funds needed to pay for the rent, outings and equipment.
For safety’s sake
Parents remain responsible for children until they have checked in to the Club, and children must must remain inside the rear part of the building or in the rear car park. The entrance is via the door on the south side near the rear of the Community Cente.
On their second visit, children must bring a completed Medical Form giving any medical condition the volunteer staff should be aware of, and giving emergency contact numbers.
Children must remain in one of the supervised areas at the rear of the building and not stray into the areas at the front or stairs.
Children must be collected from the doors of the Centre when the session ends. A Youth Club volunteer will check outside shortly after closing time, but it is very important that no¬body is left alone in the dark!
Who runs the Club?
The Youth Club is affiliated to Wickham Community Association, which is itself supported by Hampshire County Council. The Club has a Management Committee, responsible for policy and finances - however the club depends absolutely on its volunteer leader and helpers, who give up a great deal of time to prepare and run each evening (and clear up afterwards) We always need more volunteers, so if you want to help children and like having fun, please come and join us for a few hours.
The Management Committee is:
Chairman Michael Carter 832928
Secretary David Roger-Jones 833165
Treasurer Barrie Marson 832313
Youth Club Leader Ray Hughes 833308
Plus representatives of the Parish Council, Primary School, and young members.