New youth club to open in village hall

A Staffordshire village plagued by anti-social behaviour is to open a new youth club in a bid to keep youngsters from gathering on street corners.

Wimblebury has had trouble with teenagers throwing missiles at homes, underage drinking and vandalism around the Glover Street play area and John Street shopping parade. But Cannock Chase District councillor John Jillings hopes the new club he is setting up at the village community centre will give the youngsters a more productive way of spending their time.

Pool, darts, board games and music will all keep the 11 to 16 year olds entertained in an informal atmosphere with a view to going on day trips and organising outdoor activities.

He said: "These aren't bad kids and Wimblebury certainly doesn't have the worst problems in the world with anti-social behaviour but there's not a great deal for them to do in the village and that means they do gather on street corners which can be intimidating to some people.

"So what we are saying to the kids is come along here, keep yourself warm, stay safe and we'll let you chose what you want to do. We know they don't want to be told what to do so the emphasis will very much be on keeping it informal and driven by the youngsters."

He added funding for the project, which will mainly pay to hire the venue, was coming from Cannock Chase District Council.

A similar youth club which Councillor Jillings set up at Hayes Green Community Centre, in Heath Hayes, last autumn has been widely credited with sparking a drop in the number of youngsters outside the village's Tesco store.

Since then about 40 teenagers have become members of the parish council-funded club with a Christmas party attracting more than 50 youngsters.

The new club will start on January 14 and will run weekly from 6pm to 9pm at Wimblebury Community Hall, John Street. Councillor Jillings is also looking for volunteers to help run the club. All adults will go through full Criminal Records Bureau checks.