|
We have produced a blueprint for a youth club which caters for
our target group of young people 13 to 19 years old.
The design is not a generic club that can be rolled out in any
location but a series of concepts more like a kit of parts that
can be put together to suit a range of situations. Our underlying
principle is to facilitate young people’s successful transition
into adulthood within a cost effective framework.
Key Points are:
- The club is welcoming and feels safe. The ambiance is that of
independent club not institutional or local authority style buildings.
No classrooms only participation area’s.
- Provision for 8–12 year olds two nights per week is important
as some young people have already established rigid behaviour
by 13 so it makes sense to involve them early and build their
interest.
- It needs a central social area where possible, which allows
access and views of the activities around it.
- The building design incorporates sustainability in a way that
encourages the interest of young people.
- The design reflects the activities to be housed within, which
is our starting point. We suggest delivery is mainly through project
working rather than formal teaching, utilising peer to peer learning
where possible.
- Leaving youth centres empty during the day or trying to let
them on an ad hoc basis is inefficient. Better to build partnerships
with other potential users at the outset, who will contribute
to the operational costs. These include pupil referral units,
drug treatment programs and not for profit organisations working
with young people such as Connexions.
- By zoning we can allow the use of different parts of the club
by a number of organisations.
|
