The three-month pilot of the Funky Teens youth club will run from July to the end of September and depending on the level of local interest may then become a permanent club.
The new club being provided by East Sussex County Council’s Youth Development Service (YDS) will be an extension of the successful Funky Teens youth clubs that already operate from Eastbourne, Uckfield and Heathfield on alternate Saturdays.
Launched in February and named Funky Teens by the young people themselves, the clubs are specifically designed for young people aged 13–19 with disabilities. They provide a range of typical youth club activities such as games, workshops, talks and advice, and the opportunity to meet and make new friends.
The Funky Teens youth clubs are equipped to accommodate a wide range of disabilities including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and those who need wheelchairs.
Karen Burchell the youth worker who organises the Funky Teens programme said: “Funky Teens has been really successful in other parts of the county. In Eastbourne, for example, we have more than 30 young people who are members. When we launched Funky Teens we said we hoped we would be able to expand it into other communities; that’s what this trial in Hastings is all about.”
Karen stressed that the Hastings club, which will operate from the Hollington Youth Centre on alternate Saturdays, was a three-month pilot. At the end of September a decision would be made on whether it could be continued at this venue or developed elsewhere.
She said: “I really hope that there will be a lot of interest from young people with disabilities and their families in Hastings. We would really love to be able to continue this beyond the three months but there is obviously a cost involved in using the youth club and providing staff to run the clubs so there has to be enough interest to make it viable.”
Leaflets have been produced to promote the club which will be available to special schools in the area, through libraries and other agencies.
Councillor Meg Stroude, the County Council’s Lead Member for Children and Families said: “Funky Teens is a great idea. The clubs already in place are extremely successful and provide great opportunities for dozens of young people with disabilities to have fun and make new friends. I really hope that there will be enough interest and take up in Hastings to make it work there as well.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about Funky Teens in Hastings should contact Karen Burchell – tel: 01273 479790 or email: karen.burchell@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Reference:
1998
Contact the press team
