Helping Young People Thrive: A Tamworth Youth Club Built on Belonging
At Support Staffordshire, we believe strong communities are built when local groups and organisations have the support they need to help people thrive. This August, as UNICEF marks International Youth Day, we are celebrating the creativity, energy and contribution of young people in our communities. Too often, conversations about young people focus on the challenges they face, or the issues they are sometimes associated with, rather than the positive difference they make. That is why this month’s Member Story shines a light on DBC Club for Young People in Tamworth — a welcoming space where young people can feel safe, build confidence, explore new opportunities and give back to the community around them.
From humble beginnings to a Home for Young People
DBC Club for Young People has been part of local life since Thursday 23 October 1952, when Percy Layton formed the Boys Club in the old Sunday school. From the beginning, it quickly became clear that there was a real need for a place where young people could come together, take part in activities and feel part of their community. By 1953, the club’s growing success meant it moved to the pavilion at Stoneware to make room for increasing membership. That same year, it was recognised by the National Association of Boys Clubs and the Warwickshire Association of Boys’ Clubs, and was able to purchase the land on which the club still stands today. Its domed headquarters became a visible sign of the club’s growing roots in the area. Boundary changes in 1965 brought the club into the Staffordshire County Council area, and in 1970 a girls’ section was introduced, helping more young people access the opportunities and friendships the club offered. As membership continued to grow, space once again became a challenge, and in 1973 an ex-RAF wooden hut was erected to house games such as table tennis. After years of fundraising and community effort, work began in 1982 on the current building, creating a sports hall, full-sized snooker room and canteen area that would support the club’s next chapter.
Even in those early days, when the club was much smaller than it is now, its purpose was clear: to give children and young people somewhere to meet, take part in activities, build friendships and feel part of something. Over the decades, that original hut has grown into a much-loved youth and community space, with a club-owned building, indoor activity rooms, sports facilities, outdoor space and a strong programme of weekly sessions.
Today, the club continues to be a lively and welcoming part of community life, with around 120 young members attending each week across its junior girls, junior boys and senior sessions. Alongside seven football teams and wider opportunities created through local partnerships, it gives young people space to play sport, get creative, spend time with friends, try new experiences and build confidence at their own pace.
The club’s history lives not only in its building, but in the people who have passed through its doors. Generations of families have been part of its story, with former members returning as parents, grandparents, volunteers and leaders. Some volunteers have given decades of service, watching children grow from quiet new members into confident young leaders and, later, into adults who still speak warmly about the difference the club made to them.
That sense of continuity is one of the club’s greatest strengths. For many local families, it is more than an activity club; it is part of their own history. People still stop volunteers to share memories of attending when they were younger, recalling the friendships, opportunities and experiences that stayed with them long after they left. Those stories are a reminder of the lasting difference youth provision can make, helping to shape confidence, social skills, aspirations and a deep sense of belonging.
As the club looks ahead to its 75th year, its roots remain firmly in the same values that shaped its beginnings: community, inclusion, opportunity and a belief in the potential of young people. Its journey from a small hut on the grass to a thriving youth club reflects the commitment of generations of volunteers, as well as the continuing need for places where young people can belong, grow and be celebrated.
A Place to Play, Connect, Learn and Lead
Today, the youth club provides a lively, welcoming programme for children and young people across Tamworth, offering them somewhere safe, positive and enjoyable to spend time outside of school. Around 120 members attend each week, with sessions designed for different ages and stages, including junior girls, junior boys and a busy senior night for young people up to the age of 17 or 18.
For younger members, club nights are structured around shared activities, team games and opportunities to mix with children from different schools. The sessions help children build confidence, practise social skills and enjoy new experiences in a supportive environment. There is also a tuck shop, giving young people a chance to manage money, make choices and practise everyday communication skills such as asking for what they need and saying please and thank you.
As members get older, the offer becomes more flexible, giving young people the freedom to choose how they spend their evening. Some head to the sports hall or outside field, while others prefer the refurbished games room, board games, karaoke, crafts, disco activities, Just Dance, arcade-style games or simply spending time with friends. The club recognises that every young person is different, so there are louder, high-energy spaces alongside quieter options for those who need a calmer environment.
Sport is also a big part of the club’s work. Alongside weekly youth sessions, the club supports seven football teams, ranging from under-7s to under-12s, and is exploring opportunities to grow girls’ football too. Its outdoor space and sports facilities are used regularly by young people, including local college students who access the site because they do not have their own sports facilities. For the club, this is all part of the same mission: making sure the building and grounds are used to create opportunities for young people.
The programme also stretches beyond the club building. Members have the chance to take part in off-site trips and special activity days, including visits to places such as Jump Xtreme and outdoor adventure sessions where they can try activities like kayaking. These experiences give young people the chance to do something different, challenge themselves and discover strengths they may not have realised they had.
Inclusion runs through the way the club works. The team is honest with families about what can be offered by a volunteer-led organisation, while doing their best to make reasonable adjustments, listen to young people and parents, and create a space where different needs and personalities can be supported. From neurodivergent young people to children in care, young people with sensory needs, and those who simply need time to settle, the club aims to give everyone the opportunity to try, take part and feel welcome.
One of the club’s proudest areas of work is its young leader programme. Senior members can volunteer on junior nights, gaining experience, confidence and practical skills, while those completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can use the opportunity as part of their volunteering. Many young people grow from quiet new members into young helpers, and then into helpers and leaders, with some going on to paid roles or careers working with children and young people.
Alongside its youth work, the club remains a valued community asset. The building is hired by local groups and services, including the NHS, fitness classes and Chill and Chat sessions aimed at tackling loneliness. Fundraising events, family activities and celebrations also help keep the club running, with every effort focused on sustaining opportunities for children and young people.
Whether a young person comes to play football, make friends, perform on stage, join a trip, volunteer as a young helper or simply find a place where they feel comfortable, the club offers something that is increasingly rare and deeply valued: a consistent, trusted space where young people can belong, grow and be celebrated.
Building Confidence, Belonging and Pride
The club’s impact can be seen in the everyday moments that happen quietly over time: a young person walking through the door for the first time, a child joining in with a game, a teenager finding the confidence to stand on stage, or a senior member choosing to come back and help younger children. For many young people, the club offers more than activities; it gives them a trusted place where they can feel safe, accepted and part of something.
That sense of belonging is especially important for children and young people who may not always find it easy to access mainstream opportunities. By listening to families, making reasonable adjustments where possible and being honest about what a volunteer-led organisation can provide, the team creates an environment where young people are encouraged to try, take part and build independence at their own pace.
Over the years, volunteers have seen children grow from quiet, unsure members into confident young helpers and leaders. These journeys are some of the club’s proudest achievements. Through regular sessions, trips, sports, performances and volunteering opportunities, young people develop social skills, resilience, teamwork and self-belief. Some have gone on to use the experience they gained at the club to support applications for college, university, paid work or careers with children and young people.
The young leader programme is a particularly powerful example of this impact. Senior members who volunteer on junior nights gain practical experience while becoming positive role models for younger children. For those completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the club provides a meaningful volunteering route in a setting they already know and value. It also helps young people see themselves differently, not just as members who receive support, but as people who can contribute, encourage others and make a difference.
The wider community benefits too. In an area where youth provision can be limited, the club gives young people somewhere positive to go, reducing isolation and offering an alternative to simply hanging around with nowhere to be. Parents and carers know there is a place where their children can socialise, burn off energy, try new activities and be supported by familiar volunteers. For families, that consistency and trust can make a real difference.
Because the club has been part of Tamworth for so long, its impact reaches across generations. Former members still stop volunteers to share memories of attending when they were young, and many now bring their own children or grandchildren through the same doors. Long-serving volunteers have watched families grow with the club, creating a powerful sense of continuity, pride and shared ownership.
The building itself has also become a wider community resource. Alongside youth sessions and football, it is used by local groups, health services, fitness classes and community activities that help bring people together. Fundraising events, family activities and celebrations strengthen those links further, helping the club remain visible, valued and rooted in local life.
At a time when negative stories about young people can often dominate, the club shows a different picture: young people building confidence, supporting one another, volunteering, leading and contributing to their community. Its impact lies not only in the activities it offers, but in the opportunities it creates for young people to be seen, valued and celebrated.
Practical Support, Trusted Relationships and Room to Grow
Alongside the commitment of its volunteers and the strength of its local community, the youth club has valued the support it has received from Support Staffordshire. For a volunteer-led organisation managing its own building, rising running costs and a busy programme for young people, access to practical advice, funding guidance and trusted local connections has made a real difference.
One important area of support has been through grant opportunities. Although not every application has been successful, previous support helped the club secure funding towards essential utility costs, including grants of £5,000 and £4,000 in separate years. For an organisation with a large building to maintain, those contributions had a significant impact, helping relieve pressure on day-to-day running costs so the club could continue focusing its energy on children and young people.
Support Staffordshire has also provided guidance during more complex organisational changes. When the club moved from being a registered charity to becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, the process brought significant practical and legal challenges. These were particularly linked to transferring assets, land and responsibilities from one structure to another. Support from Claire Ferris, Capacity Building Manager and Locality Development Officer for Tamworth, helped the club navigate that process, understand what was needed and find the right professional advice when the situation became more complicated.
That personal, approachable support has been especially valuable. The club described Claire as someone who has always been at the end of the phone: a friendly, knowledgeable person they can turn to with questions, worries or ideas. For volunteers managing a long-standing community organisation alongside their own busy lives, knowing there is someone who understands the voluntary sector and can point them in the right direction has helped them feel supported and less alone.
Support Staffordshire’s wider networks have also opened doors. Through forums, volunteering fairs and local connections, the club has been able to meet other organisations, share experiences and explore new sources of help. Being put in touch with SCVYS brought additional support around safeguarding, DBS checks and youth sector guidance, strengthening the club’s confidence and helping ensure its volunteers have access to the right information.
The relationship has also helped the club think about visibility and promotion. As it looks ahead to its 75th anniversary, the team is keen to celebrate its history, raise awareness of what it offers, attract new volunteers and share the positive stories of young people in Tamworth. Support Staffordshire’s communications channels, including its website, e-bulletin, social media and local media links, offer a valuable way to help amplify that message and shine a light on the club’s contribution.
For the youth club, this support is not about one single intervention, but about an ongoing relationship built on trust, knowledge and practical help. Whether through funding guidance, charity governance support, introductions to other organisations or simply having someone to ask, Support Staffordshire has helped the club continue doing what it does best: creating opportunities for young people to belong, grow and thrive.
Celebrating 75 Years and Looking to the Future
As the club looks ahead to its 75th anniversary next year, there is a real sense of pride in everything it has achieved, alongside excitement about what comes next. Plans are already being discussed for a community celebration that brings together young people, families, local organisations, schools, churches and businesses to mark the milestone and recognise the generations of people who have been part of the club’s story.
For the children and young people who attend today, the hope is to create even more opportunities to try new activities, build confidence and make positive memories. The team would love to offer something special for members as part of the anniversary year, whether through a bigger activity day, new experiences on site, or events that give young people the chance to celebrate the club as their own.
At the heart of those hopes is a simple ambition: to keep the club open, active and accessible for future generations. The waiting list shows just how much local families value the club, but it also highlights the ongoing challenge. Like many volunteer-led organisations, the club can only grow its offer if it has enough people willing to give their time, energy and encouragement.
Volunteers are needed in a range of ways, from helping during club nights and supporting activities, to assisting with fundraising events, administration, maintenance, trips or simply being another trusted adult in the room. Not everyone has to commit every week; even occasional support can make a difference. For those who enjoy working with young people, being part of a friendly team or giving back to their local community, the club offers a meaningful and rewarding place to volunteer.
The club also works hard to make volunteers feel valued. Young helpers receive recognition for their contribution, long-serving volunteers are celebrated, and social events help create the sense of friendship and belonging that keeps people involved. For some, volunteering becomes a way to gain experience for future careers; for others, it is a chance to meet people, use existing skills or simply support something they believe in.
As International Youth Day reminds us, young people should be recognised not only for what they may become, but for the contribution they already make. This club shows what can happen when a community believes in its young people and creates space for them to belong, grow, lead and thrive.
With more volunteers, the club can continue that work into its next chapter: welcoming more young people, strengthening its community links and ensuring that the next generation has the same opportunities, memories and support that so many local families have valued for the past 75 years.