A campaign has been launched to bring back Bilton Youth Club a decade after it closed.
Arnold Warneken, who was the Harrogate and District Green Party candidate in last week’s the Bilton by-election, has set up a petition calling on North Yorkshire County Council to reinstate the youth club. It was wound up in 2012 following funding cuts.
He said a reinvigorated youth club would have a big impact on young people in Bilton who have been stuck for things to do, particularly during lockdown.
Anti-social behaviour and crime were key issues when he was out campaigning, he added.
Mr Warneken said:
“It’s about getting people to acknowledge the relationship with anti-social behaviour and the lack of youth clubs.”
His petition currently has 230 signatures and Mr Warneken hopes the Bilton community will rally behind it to put pressure on North Yorkshire County Council, which runs children’s services in the district.
Read more:
- Conservative Matt Scott: litter, schools and transport top priorities for Bilton
- Bilton Liberal Democrat candidate ‘very sorry’ after by-election defeat
Bilton Youth Club ran for over 50 years and was open three nights a week for teenagers to meet up and socialise. It also offered a range of activities, including sports and outdoor pursuits, until 2012.
The building is now run by the charity North Yorkshire Sport, which operates Bilton Health and Wellbeing Hub. It provides community activities, including a youth club, art club, physical activities, and social sessions for older people.
However, it only offers teenagers the chance to meet up once a week on Monday evenings from 5pm-7pm.
Mr Warneken proposes the youth club could be run at different venues in Bilton and offer activities from camping and foraging to musical tuition and sports coaching.
He added:
“It needs imagination and for the community to believe it will make a difference to crime, safety and health. The kids need to be given a chance.”
North Yorkshire County Council’s head of stronger communities, Marie-Anne Jackson, said:
“The county council’s children and families service are currently actively working with the stronger communities team, North Yorkshire Sport and North Yorkshire Youth to look at how we can work with local communities to support them to develop activities for children and young people and their families.
“We’re keen to harness the incredible energy and community response that has been seen in this work during the pandemic, by engaging with local people and organisations and making sure they have the support, skills and confidence needed to provide community services they would like to see in their local area.
“This includes making sure communities can provide support networks or services they feel they need for children, young people and families in their area.”
