KCN launches First Make Space club

Launched last month, the club is part of a 2.5m campaign that aims to provide a UK-wide network of out-of-school clubs for 11- to 16-year-olds.

Anne Longfield, chief executive of KCN, said, 'Our research shows that six out of ten teenagers and eight out of ten parents think that there is not enough for young people to do in the area where they live.'

This venture, sponsored by the Nestle Trust, has been designed to meet the needs of young people across the country, by offering them a safe place to socialise.

Based on feedback from 2,000 interviews with parents, teenagers, youth workers and teachers, Make Space has devised a set of guidelines that all member clubs are committed to follow. These include providing a chill-out space where young people can relax and chat with friends, an activity space where they can access sports, arts and events and a quiet zone where they can study, surf the net, or do their homework. There will also be opportunities to take part in schemes exclusive to the clubs - from making music to taking part in alternative sports. Most important, the teenagers themselves will all be involved in the decision-making.