Penlan pop-up youth club ninth in Swansea

THE number of pop-up youth clubs in Swansea is continuing to expand with another opening in Penlan next week. It will be the ninth to launch as Swansea Council’s youth services, called Evolve, reaches more and more young people.

Evolve has teamed up with Freedom Leisure, who run Penlan Leisure Centre, for the initiative.

It will be held between 7 pm and 9 pm every Thursday from February 3 at the centre and is for 11 to 17-year-olds.

Places need to be booked in advance and activities are set to include table tennis, basketball, Nintendo and PlayStation, arts and crafts, access to the centre’s gym and lots more.

Evolve runs youth clubs in Blaenymaes, Townhill, Gorseinon, Brynhyfryd and Llansamlet.

In recent months the service has responded to requests for provision in other communities by working with partners to establish nine pop-up clubs in other areas including Mayhill and Clase and now Penlan.

Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:

“While the clubs were closed due to coronavirus restrictions youth workers were about meeting young people in places where they usually gather and during the pandemic they engaged with 3,000 more young people than the previous year.

“This change in the way our youth team works has meant they’ve been able to meet many more young people, including those who may never have attended a youth club but benefitted from engaging with the youth service in their community.

“Going forward the intention is to continue this while also keeping our youth clubs that are very popular and via pop-up clubs.

“I’m very pleased that we are opening another of these in Penlan and I’d like to thank Freedom Leisure for their support with this.

“In Swansea, we want to make sure that young people have access to the right support at the right time, from people they trust, in a place that is safe for them.”

Jim Kelly, General Manager of Penlan Leisure Centre, said:

“We’re really pleased to be working with Swansea Council to provide opportunities for the young people in our community to meet and engage with each other.

“Penlan Leisure Centre sits at the heart of the community and we look forward to welcoming young people in the area to our facility.”

The centre’s assistant manager Jon Parry added: “I’m a local boy and understand the social aspects of our community. We know and love our community and we want to give everyone the best opportunity to use the leisure centre and benefit from it.”