Community workers set up new youth club in Edmonton

8:40am Wednesday 12th November 2008

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A NEW youth club has been started by three young adults who say they want to replace the youth centre which was lost in Edmonton over a decade ago.

The Numnutz Academy is an after-school club for ten to 16-year-olds offering activity afternoons in weekdays and all-day Saturday sessions through the year.

The club will be launched on Saturday November 22 and start on Monday November 24 from 4 to 6.30pm after the trio secured a hall and several rooms at community art and theatre venue Artzone, upstairs in Edmonton shopping centre.

With a total staff of ten, the club will have six people on duty at any one time offering everything from drama to art sessions.

The club will be open on Saturdays from 10am to 4.30pm. The founders say that all sessions will be run by teachers and instructors with qualifications in the area who have been CRB vetted, with all certificates available on request. Hot food will also be provided.

Numnutz was founded by Rohan Crichlow-Wright, Richard Bethune-Wright and Sarah Edoo-Ledgister as a jobs website and community forum.

Mr Crichlow-Wright, a recruitment consultant, said he decided to set up a youth club with the same name "as a response to a lack of support from local government with regards to affordable activities for children and teenagers."

Ms Edoo-Ledgister, a mentor for ex-offenders and ambassador for the Prince's Trust, said: "We just want to bring back the Plevna Road youth centre, and we're doing it without any Government funding because once the funding runs out we will have to close and everyone will be really disappointed.

"On Saturdays parents can go to Tesco or the new ASDA, go home with their shopping and come back and pick up their kids."

A dance and drama workshop will be provided by Natasha Sambo, a qualified drama teacher, and Lechelle Wright.

Youth mentoring sessions will be available and art workshops will also be provided.

Doja Sowunmi, a school football coach, will be provided in a nearby park.

The club has use of a hall and several rooms where kids can also do their homework, with support provided from the supervisors. Other classes may also be provided.

The cost is £3 per session for both weekdays and Saturdays. For more information contact sarah.bibi@hotmail.com