After months of hard work and preparation Bangor’s new Youth Club – Hwb Westend Hub – will open its doors on Friday 19th July.
The youth club will be a skills youth club for children from all over the Bangor area, held every Friday for Juniors (6-11 yrs) and Teens (11-17 yrs).
The club aims to give children in Bangor a safe place to enjoy and learn skills from different businesses and groups, learning about CV’s, gaining certificates in first aid and much more. Parents will have peace of mind that their children are somewhere safe, having fun and learning something new at the same time.
Working with Bangor University and North Wales Police, the group aim to help the children enjoy safer neighbourhoods to live and play in, by understanding about behaviour, decisions and consequences, as well as learning about respecting and helping other people, no matter what their age. Educating young people about ‘County Lines’ and how not to become a victim is also a priority.
Children attending the youth club will have the opportunity to learn different skills including self defence, fitness, first aid, singing, baking, arts & crafts, drama, singing and dance. There really will be something for everyone!
The project recently benefited from a £2,500 grant from the North Wales Police & Community Trust, ‘Your Community Your Choice’ awards, which helps fund community projects in North Wales while helping to fight crime by engaging with young people, using money seized from criminals.
Hwb Westend Hub organiser Natalie Robb said: “Without that £2,500 we would never have had the chance to start up this fantastic venture for the children of Bangor.
“We are also looking at getting local business involved, and hopefully setting up work experience for children, which they no longer get in school.
“There will be lots to do in the youth club on top of learning different skills, in the way of socialising, play etc.
“Computers, gaming, entrepreneurial skills, art & design, fitness, first aid, food hygeine and fundraising will all be something the children will be able to get involved in.
“We will also be holding workshops on social media, drugs and alcohol awareness and county lines.
“We have a volunteer councillor also on board and North Wales police are in full support of this venture and we also have two members as committee members.
“The military college, para’s, fire brigade and ambulance service have all said they are excited to get involved too.
“Children will be taught about CV’s and helped to build their own CV, adding on their accomplishments via the Youth Club and outside achievements and experiences too.
“Careers Wales and Young enterprise have given us some wonderful advice and are helping us through our journey and happy to be joining us along the way.
“The youth club is for all children in Bangor and will hopefully give the children somewhere safe to come to with their friends, make new friends and give themselves something to show them that their futures can be something wonderful by learning and having fun along the way, meeting lots of people who they can aspire to be like or simply learn from.
“Getting the businesses in Bangor involved in this is something we are very passionate about and those I have spoken to already have been very excited about this venture, for the children, the city centre, neighbours, parents and the police force too.”
Hwb Westend Hub opens with a ‘Launch Day’ this Friday 19th July from 4.30pm-7.30pm and will be held weekly from Friday 26th July.
The Kids (6-11 Yrs) will be 6pm-7.30pm and Teens (11-17 Yrs) from 7.45pm-9.15pm
The first 3 weeks are free to try (26th July – 9th August)
The Autumn session begins on Friday 6th September with each session charged at £1 per child.
Where: Westend Academy, 39 Farrar Road, Bangor, LL57 1LJ
Photo Collage: Natalie Robb receives a cheque fro £2,500 on behalf of Hwb Westend Hub, from the North Wales Police & Community Trust, which has helped setup the youth club.
