Why your church needs to open a youth club…now!

From the hit Netflix series Adolescence to Gareth Southgate’s recent lecture, it’s clear from the headlines this week that young people in the UK need much better role models. Andy Mossop says it’s time for more churches to plug the gap left by funding cuts and invest in opening new youth clubs. It will bring you and your church numerous benefits, he says

As a youth worker in East London, it was heartening to see Ezra Collective become the first jazz band to win “Group of the Year” at the Brit Awards. In his acceptance speech, their frontman, Femi Koleoso, remembered with gratitude the youth clubs that first put instruments in their hands and encouraged them to dream. 

It could be an instrument, a sport or simply a safe space to commune with other young people and hang out with some supportive adults, but there’s no doubt that youth clubs make a massive difference to young people, perhaps especially those growing up in working class communities.

Yet, this era of cuts to youth services run by local authorities has left young people without the option of youth clubs and the opportunity of being guided, encouraged and occasionally protected by trusted adults in their environment. 

If your church is in an area with lots of housing estates or a large working-class community, running a youth club for local young people could be a powerful way to show the community the compassion of Christ.