Funding boost for youth club set up by Cov teenager

A YOUTH club in Coventry which was set up by a local teenager has received vital funding that will help support its mission of getting young people off the streets.

FRIDAYS is a safe weekly event, with street escorts, music, open mic nights and competitions - as well as opportunities for mentorship.

It has been set up by young people for other young people aged 15 to 17, and has some exciting plans in place which include an attempt to break a world record.

The brains behind the operation is 18-year-old Tyler Campbell fromWyken.

Tyler told us: “I wanted to create a safe space for young people in Coventry.

“I wanted to combine education and entertainment into one building, where organisations can drop by to help kids do better.”

The club has massively grown in popularity since we first visited in August, and is now a well known spot for local young people to spend their Friday nights It has gone to great lengths to attract members and the recent crowds speak for themselves.

Tyler and his team have been getting everyone from local barbers and make up artists, to rappers and careers advisers in to engage with young people in Coventry and it has worked a treat.

They have seen increased numbers in recent weeks, and have been making a real impact with young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Whilst there is entertainment upstairs, a space has been created downstairs for different agencies to come in and chat to young people.

The FRIDAYS team have created these unique partnerships with businesses and mentors across Coventry and Warwickshire to ensure that this space for education is provided on the night.

They have also started a Christmas job shop which organisers have said has been met with real enthusiasm.

It is a great balance of having a young mind engineer the process, but with the support and belief from the adults around it.

Safety has been a huge consideration in the setting up of this club. Organisers have ensured that there are no barriers to young people attending safely, and enjoying themselves.

Parents and children have also been kept in mind throughout, a popular feature of the night is the fact that teenagers are escorted to and from the venue by volunteers.

Back in August we asked you in a poll if you thought that new spaces like this will actually keep young people off the streets, 83 per cent of you said yes. And this success has been reflected in the confident steps the club will be taking next.

“We hope we can get even more young people visiting and feeling safe”

Local businesses are seizing the chance to help play their part in nurturing the ambitions of young people in the area.