Exclusive: Harold Hill Youth Club’s Desperate Plea To Havering Council To Keep Their Funding And Not Turn Their Back On Them.

Three years ago external funding was secured to launch a youth club in Harold Hill at MyPlace. This youth club was run entirely by volunteers and at the time, Havering Council agreed to provide youth support to help.

The club run by Russell, has gone from strength to strength and has supported many youths across Harold Hill and Havering.

Russell told the Havering Daily: “Our club has become a huge success, with over 30 young people attending regularly. We’ve organised trips to Wales-  5-day outdoor activity residentials for just £10, thanks to our fundraising efforts we have taken over 60 young people from Harold Hill on these trips. Embarked on Leadership and self-development courses,Sailing adventures to Belgium and life-changing opportunities, including sending one of our members to Nepal.”

The club has been a huge source of comfort for the local youths.

Russell added: “It is a safe, welcoming space for young people, including those of whom are referred to us by Havering Social Services.

All of this has been achieved without costing Havering a penny. Yet, they still use our high attendance figures as proof of their engagement with young people.”

Sadly now the club is facing an endless list of challenges and is reaching out to Havering Council to continue to back them.

“As the club has grown, our volunteers are struggling to keep up with demand. Instead of supporting us, Havering wants to restrict and cap numbers”, continued Russell. “This means turning young people away many of whom have nowhere else to go.

Even worse, Havering has suspended us from using MyPlace, despite the fact that we run one of the most successful youth clubs in the borough. This decision is due to incidents outside the club (due to members being outside due to restrictions on numbers ) , based on our high attendance, and the fact that we attract young people with mental and physical difficulties, as well as those in care who mix socially and well which should be seen as a positive, not a reason for exclusion.

Many of the challenges we face including incidents occurring outside the club stem from the fact that we do not have a dedicated youth worker, something Havering promised to provide over three years ago. If they had fulfilled their commitment to funding a youth worker for just two hours a week, we could have managed these situations more effectively, ensuring even greater safety and support for our young people. Instead, we are being left to handle everything with only volunteers, while Havering continues to rely on our success without providing the resources they pledged.”

At a time when youth clubs are vital for our community, Russell is hoping that despite the financial burdens the council faces, it will help support these youths.

Russell said: “We Are Lucky to Have Support from Julia Lopez. Despite the challenges we’ve faced from Havering Council, we are fortunate to have the backing of Julia Lopez, who has been a supporter of our work. Julia has actively engaged with us, championing the needs of young people in Harold Hill, and recommending us and supporting us in external funding applications, and we are grateful for her ongoing support in our activities and mission.

We’re at a breaking point. The club is thriving, young people love it, and we’re making a real difference but Havering’s failure to support us is putting everything at risk,” finished Russell.

Some of the youth club members told the Havering Daily:

“Joining the youth club has been an amazing experience for me in so many ways. When I first started, I had only been in the area for about a year and was involved with groups that led me down a path of trouble. Everything changed when I began attending the youth club. Through Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, I was given incredible opportunities, from outdoor adventures and theatre trips to weekend getaways, all of which helped me navigate challenges in my personal life.”

“The youth club became my safe space—a place to take a breather from the outside world, interact with people from all walks of life, and enjoy activities like pool, table tennis, and even simple but meaningful moments like colouring with Claire. However, the real value lies beyond the activities. It’s the support from youth workers like Claire and Russell, who are always there to listen, guide, and encourage us to be our best. They’ve created an environment where everyone feels accepted and can participate without fear of judgement.”

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