Youth Clubs

Youth provision in Wonford has dwindled over recent years: the former Youth Club at the Shakespeare Road Centre is now housing and the Wednesday Club at Wonford Methodist Church is no more.

The Phoenix Youth Club, between the Community Centre and Sports Centre, had different sessions for different age groups and also a successful football team. But in 2014, due to Government cuts, Devon County Council decided to close most of their Youth Clubs and the final Phoenix Youth Club session was held on July 2014.

The Trustees of Wonford Community and Learning Centre (WCLC) with support from a small group of local residents decided to take on the building. The paperwork took some time but the renamed Phoenix Suite was officially opened in 2017 and youth provision returned!

Prior to the pandemic there were three term-time youth groups:

Youth Café for Years 7, 8, and 9  run by the Wonford Community and Learning Centre Youth Worker

Beanies Club for years 4, 5 and 6 run by the Wonford and St Pauls (WASP) Project Youth Worker

Kicks football/youth club run by City Community Trust

The Youth Cafe restarted on 6th May and it was great to welcome the young people back!

After the usual summer break Youth Cafe returned on September 9th 2021.

Youth Cafe for years 7,8 and 9

Thursday eveings (term time) from 6pm to 8pm

Letter to Parents/Carers

Dear Parent/carer                                                                                                                                May 2021

We are delighted that after such a long time, we are able to welcome young people back into the Phoenix Centre. 

Although the set up will be slightly different to pre lockdown times there will still be plenty of opportunity for your children to socialise and have fun in a relaxed environment with their friends.   Entry is still £1 and will this will include a simple meal – the tuck shop will also be open. 

There is an expectation that young people will be wearing masks, with the exception of those that are exempt, and social distancing will be followed in the centre.    Additionally, there will be a maximum of 15 young people allowed into the centre during any session, once signed in a young person counts towards the total of 15 whether they are in the centre or not.  If your child wants to attend, we are running from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and would advise they arrive as close to 6:00pm as possible. 

Please be assured that we are adhering to guidelines set to ensure that the centre space is as safe as possible. As per guidelines from the national youth agency, the government and Public Health England the following is in place: –

• An assessment that the risk to staff, volunteers, young people and the community can be safely managed.
• The ability to meet core government guidance
• Enhanced cleaning arrangement are in place.
• We have the ability to comply with social distancing requirements.
• We have the ability to ensure that hygiene levels are maintained, including for frequent hand washing/cleansing with hand sanitiser.

All young people attending will be given a registration form on opening evening which will need to be completed before their return.  In addition to the fact that we have always needed contact details for parents/carers it is really important that we can contact you should anybody in the centre have a case of Covid 19, to ensure self-isolating can be adhered to.

Once again we are really looking forward to seeing the young people back, and making some happy memories after so much they have missed since March 2020.

Best wishes

The Phoenix Youth Café Team