Twickenham Brunswick C.Y.P.

Many if not most youth clubs, theses days, have to adhere to a policy of social education. In our club the members develop socially without organised discussions. Sometimes members bring problems to the club but we addresss these problems should they arise, with those young people.  In our club we try to minimize any antisocial behaviour rather than highlight it, make it the exception rather than the norm.

Why address problems that are not generally there?

Why put thoughts into the minds of young people who don't have those thoughts?

  What we teach our young people!

A lot of what we learn in life is learnt inadvertently nobody really taught us to speak walk or eat. It just happenedby being in an environment where we saw others doing these things. We are absorbing skills and knowledge all day every day through our senses without anyone sitting us down and saying “You will learn this!"

Our club runs a programme of activities for the young people. We do not ascribe to the idea of sitting down and discussing issues with the young people. They learn hands on, in a practical way. After all what was more enjoyable at school?  Reading textbooks, writing, listening to the teacher, or was it the practical sessions with apparatus.

So our education programme runs something like this.

In the canteen they learn to take their turn, for if they push in they will not be served. They learn manners, to say please and thank you for you get nothing in life through rudeness.

They pay their subs and their annual fees and they learn that nothing in life comes free. They learn that they help fund the club, that the club is there for them and they learn to respect the building and the equipment as it is their money that pays for them.

Our young people help to fundraise on occasions and with the income they may be given a treat, and involved in decision making as to what should be bought. And through this they learn that the more you put in to life the more you get out of it.

The young people participate in MYPC activities, not just the one’s they are good at but they are encouraged to have a go at everything. Through this they learn to be magnanimous in victory but accept defeat graciously for there are no losers except those who do not participate. And so it is in life, if every defeat is seen as a stepping-stone to reaching a goal then our mistakes and failures can only make us stronger.

Our members occasionally argue and have disagreements but through this they learn that we all have days when we are not as tolerant as we should be, and that by treating others, as we would like to be treated, even when we feel wronged, makes the world a far nicer place.

Our members learn to play by the rules, to work hard to achieve their best. In life there will always be those who cheat or cut corners to gain an unfair advantage. Our members are encouraged to fight fair for then when success arrives they can hold their heads high knowing their rewards and achievements were earned.

Our young people love to be active, busy young people for it is only when boredom sets in, that problems arise. In our club drugs, smoking, racism, bullying, sex and violence are a foreign vocabulary. We do not display posters to remind them of these. Through this they learn that they can control their world, they can accept or reject what they want. We try to allow our young people to remain carefree children in our club. Our club is not perfect, just as we are not perfect, but through this they learn that their club will be what they make it.