Surrey's Universal Youth Work Proposal - PLEASE SUPPORT US

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BACKGROUND 

Last November, Surrey County Council (SCC) stated that it would not be able to continue to run youth clubs and their buildings in the way it has done in the past. 

SCC has launched a consultation period and suggested that community organisations form proposals to take on the running of their own youth clubs, as well as the buildings themselves. As part of their consultation they have invited the public to complete an online survey which is open and available now but closes on 30th June 2020. 

• For Surrey's consultation summary and supporting proposal - see SCC's Consultation Page 

• For guidance and suggested responses to the survey - see our page Completing the Survey

WHAT DOES CLAYGATE VILLAGE YOUTH CLUB DO TODAY? 

Claygate Youth Club meets every Thursday night from 7-9pm for Years 7 – 13. During lockdown we’ve been holding zoom quizzes on Thursday evenings. Pictured is an example of a term’s worth of activities. We also have a pool table, air hockey, Playstation, tuck shop, sofas to hang out on, arts and crafts and games. We have an amazing team of volunteers who work to make the Claygate Youth Club into a safe, chilled space that our young people can call their own. Before lockdown and with the generosity of residents and organisations in Claygate we turned one of our offices into a quiet room, giving us somewhere to mentor, check on mental wellbeing and talk one on one.

WHAT IS OUR NEW VISION IN RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION? 

Claygate Village Youth Club Association (CVYCA) have produced a detailed proposal which could transform the use of the present youth centre into something called The Claygate Youth and Community Hub (CYCH).  

Our proposal was submitted to SCC at the end of February. Our vision consists of turning the building into the CYCH, for young people and others in the community to enjoy. By day it would be a building that the whole community could use, providing rooms for hire, a cafe with Wi-Fi facilities and a soft play area for toddlers. From 3pm to 9.30pm it would provide a safe place for young people from the ages of 11 to 18 (school years 7 to 13) to hang out. Claygate Village Youth Club would still run on a Thursday evening, and long term with more volunteers we’d love to offer additional nights. 

To fully utilise the facilities on offer by SCC, we want to ensure that we cater for the whole of our community, whilst at the same time not wishing to take away from other community and business enterprises, such as the Scouts & Guides, local churches, the Recreation Ground, the Village Hall, the Centre for the Community, local cafes and other hospitality outlets which are all an important part of our village. We want to work with, and for the community and know that what blesses one, blesses all.  We wish to add to the variety and quality of life in Claygate as well as ensuring that we retain use of the youth centre in Elm Road. 

                           OUR BUILDING.  OUR FUTURE. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

                            HELP SUPPORT US IN OUR VISION FOR CLAYGATE!