TEENAGERS in Rose Hill have been given their own youth club after years of planning.

The new club, for youngsters aged 11 to 18, was launched at the new Rose Hill Community Centre in Ashhurst Way on Saturday.

Sessions will be led by the youngsters themselves, but dancing, cooking, sport, dance, boxing and tennis will be a few of the activities available.

The brains behind the project said it will be a welcome addition to the existing club for children aged six to 11.

Community centre worker Fran Gardner said: “The club has been a long time coming after years of hard work and I’m so pleased we were able to launch it.

“In 2011 we started our own junior youth club for six- to 11-year-olds after receiving funding from the Big Lottery Fund and it was a bit of a monster project with over 130 people attending.

“But last summer we realised that we needed to cater to older children and providing activities for children over the age of 11 because there was very little on the estate for them and it was our duty to give them somewhere to go.”

Ms Gardner and her colleagues set about securing funding for a new project for 11- to 15-year-olds and were thrilled to receive £9,500 from Awards for All to fund a year-long pilot project.

She said: “After receiving the funding we were able to join forces with the city council’s Youth Ambition project meaning that now we are able to take kids from 15 up to 18 and we have a completely seamless range of activities for all ages.”

The club will also give session leaders an opportunity to talk to young people about issues such as bullying.

On Saturday, more than 100 children visited the centre for a taste of what was to come.

Ibrahin Atitebi, eight, said: “The youth club is good because it allows all different people of different ages to come together and I think there should be one every day.”

PCSO Aaron Gisburn also popped in to the centre and said he thought the club would be an added bonus to the community.

He said: “In general it’s great for the community, because it’s something we’ve been lacking for some time, and will bring people together.”

Eleven-year-old Jake Francis added that he thought the youth club was “awesome.”

He said: “I’ve been playing table tennis and basketball and had lots of fun.”

The centre’s first session takes place next Thursday, from 6pm and 8pm and is open to anyone.

ROSE HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE

Almost 60 years ago, the community in Rose Hill was celebrating after a new £13,000 community centre opened in The Oval in the September of 1956.

And a new chapter of history began on January 30 this year when Oxford City Council opened the new £4.7m centre in Ashhurst Way after 14 months of work.

Now the building provides local residents with a cafe and gym in addition to being a new home for Rose Hill Junior Youth Club.

Precious Ekpenyong, nine, said: “I think it’s a really, really good place for people to go and bond and get good at anything.

“On the open day for the youth club I coloured a wall with a special ink pen, which was really fun.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Rose Hill Lottery Project Worker Lizzie Carline serves up some good food to Rhyanna Carne, 12

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The new 11-to-18 youth club at Rose Hill Community Centre currently has just two volunteers, but will be looking for more.

When the club gets going properly after half term, staff are hoping to take on three or four more to help run events.

Rose Hill Lottery project worker Lizzie Carline, who has helped launch the club, said: “We are definitely always seeking volunteers.

“Anyone who is enthusiastic to work with young people and is prepared for a bit of a challenge is welcome.

“No experience is necessary but enthusiasm and patience would definitely be assets.”

Anyone interested to find out more should email lizzie.carline@greensquaregroup.com, search for Rose Hill Regeneration on Facebook, or call Ms Carline on 07768 600935.