I recently visited the CACA Junior Youth Club to see the amazing work’ of a group of volunteers in Cowdenbeath who give up their time to organise and run the towns junior youth club.
I visited on a Friday evening to meet volunteers and talk with the young people who participate in the club. Over 150 children are regulars every Friday night taking part in games, discussions and wider activities. Volunteers run the games and ensure the children are able to enjoy toasties and snacks as part of a full programme.
The work of Alex Haddow and the amazing group of volunteers is just fantastic and I thanked them all. I spoke with many children who told me just how important the Friday night youth club is for them and their friends. I believe we need to do more to support youth work and this club is a shinning example of what can be achieved when you have people willing to give some time and energy to supporting young people.
I was struck by not just the levels of activities on offer but also by the total respect the children have for the volunteers and the wide ranging discussions that were taking place around respect, anti-bullying and looking out for each other. Beath High School has some really good facilities and it is great to see this group of volunteers organising to ensure that all these young people are able to use the facilities.
The club is run professionally with all volunteers able to do training and all being vetted achieving their PVGs to work with children. I believe that youth work has suffered badly as a result of cuts so it is like a breath of fresh air to see this club thriving with a regular attendance of between 150 and 200 children every week.
If we invest in and support our young people the payback will be immense and that is why the work these volunteers are doing in Cowdenbeath is so important. The club is a credit to the town and an example of the kind of youth work we need to see a lot more off in supporting young people.
