hey thanks guys for not only replying but for also giving such a positive view on youth clubs!! I have also posted questions on the BBC/OUCH blogsite and have mainly recieved negitive replies. Its great to hear of people having a good time at a youth club. Iam hoping to get some local disabled young people to attend the youth club that I work at. I know that we already work with a few young people with learning difficulties but this is a very small amount .The centre is already accessible for disabled people with mobility issues and we have alot of resources available in large print or braille. I wonder if there is anything that the centre csn do to attract disabled young people??? ANY IDEAS???

Hey there Iam a Community education degree 2nd year sudent and Iam currently writing a paper on Equalities. I have choosen to look at young people with disabilities and why they donnot attend the youth club in my area. Please can anyone give me some information on this subject ? Share your experiences of attending a youth club or if you have any idea what sort of training would be advisable for youth workers in a mainstream provsion to take ???
many thanks

Hi, Iam 20 and have cp diplegia, that mainly affects my legs and fine motor control in my hands.
I attended my local youth club from the age of about 14 to around 17. the youth workers were great, they adapted activities that i found hard, for example football and basketball - adapting the rules etc.
they also offered alot of support when I needed it - particulalrly when I was in hospital for an operation and after I crashed my moped and broke my bad leg in three places!
I think the main reason that i enjoyed youth club so much was that i was included in everything that I wanted to be, and never told that I couldn't do anything. I was left to discover my own boundaries.

good luck with your research
chris.

My son is 14 and he attends an inclusive youth club in a town near us. The majority of the members have additonal needs, but it also has main stream members who come in. Some of them volunteer to help with the activities.

They do lots of activities, cooking, quizzes, outings, art and craft, sports.

It is very successful.

Why not talk to the local schools where the disabled young people go. They could give out posters. Also what about getting some 6th form volunteers to help. For those who are want to explore careers in nursing, medicine, social work it would be very good experience.

Why not ask you local council if there are any grants available to purchase addaptive games like boccia or new age kurling.