Kids launch youth club

Apr 13 2010 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

A GROUP of eight kids in Ferguslie are hoping to make a difference for youngsters living in the housing scheme by starting their own youth club.

They have developed a Youth Forum which they hope will give teenagers and other children in the area a voice.

Members of Ferguslie Youth Forum meet at Ferguslie Sports Centre every Monday at 6pm after facility boss Darryl Ramage offered them a room to use as their base.

The young people even went on a field trip to Castlemilk Youth Complex to meet with other youngsters aged 16 to 25 who run a similar project in the Glasgow scheme.

Linda Byars, a Glasgow University student, has been helping the kids get FYF off the ground and she told the Paisley Daily Express: “The trip was very interesting and the young people learned so much, especially with regards to what their roles and responsibilities will be.

“They have been supported in the process by Renfrewshire Council’s Community Action Team, who offered training that will empower the group with skills and knowledge.

“The group has also completed an eight-week Introduction to Youth Work course as well as attending an event at Glasgow City Chambers in December, giving a speech there.

“Everyone at the event was impressed by their determination to have their own youth club.”

The FYF group are currently in the process of becoming a constituted group and now hope to raise funds to develop a music club later this year.

Linda added: “This is an exciting, motivated group who want to make a difference in their community for other young people of Ferguslie.

“They are the voice of other young people and want to become a role model for those youngsters. The youth forum want to breakdown barriers and stop discriminatory dialogue in society.

“They want the wider community to respect the young people of Ferguslie and realise they have great potential given the right opportunities.”