Struggling Wem youth club in fightback drive

Wem Youth Club re-opened in spring this year after six months of refurbishments to its building on Leek Street and the club's chairman has said it has struggled to recover back to its former glory since.

Ian Cruise-Taylor, chairman of the club's committee, said an attempt to get numbers in had not worked to date.

He said: "Prior to its closure in 2013 it had been thriving with three nights a week attracting good numbers of young people.

"On re-opening the club chose chose to restrict its offer to one night a week aimed at years five and six, and sought to establish a strong relationship with St Peter's Primary School. This did not come to fruition.

"It struggled to attract young people, with only one or two attending in the early weeks.

"By the end of the summer term, this number had risen to a regular nine children. There has also been interest from older young people who have been invited once schools return."

In an attempt to increase numbers and income at the club the committee will be contacting all primary schools within travelling distance to promote the club and taking assemblies.

The club has also been leased out to a cancer charity, whose members have paid for hire and has held a coffee morning to help raise funds, but organisers say more needs to be done to keep the club going.

Mr Cruise-Taylor said: "The club is just surviving on the good will of its leaders and the efforts of the committee.

"The committee is determined to energise significant support, which it will need if it is to remain viable in the coming months.

"The club intends to develop a more structured marketing plan, to both promote its own club activities, but also market it as a venue for other local organisations to use for meetings and events."

The club is planning on producing flyers to promote the club, using Facebook more to attract members and raise awareness.

And it is also trying to set up a link with Thomas Adams High School to attract older teenagers to the club, with possibly using sixth formers as young leaders.

The youth club has recently written to Wem Town Council and councillors have said they want to meet with someone from the committee to discuss figures and future plans in more detail.