Spotlight on…St Andrew’s Club

Headline Date 02-08-2017

Here at Victoria BID, we recognise the incredible work local charities do to make our neighbourhood a better place. This month, we are taking a moment to shine a spotlight on St Andrew’s Club,  a community-based youth club which provides activities that are enabling, educational, fun and participative for young people from the ages of 5 to adulthood.

St Andrew’s Club is actually the oldest youth club in the world! It was founded in 1866, in the spirit of Victorian philanthropy for the young working men of London struggling to survive during the Industrial Revolution.

Today, spread over a three-storey, purpose built premises, the club offers a safe, welcoming and active environment for people of all ages. A huge range of activity options means all tastes are catered for; from archery to music production, cookery to chess, Capoeira to fashion, health and beauty courses, karate and arts and crafts.

St Andrew’s Club provides a lifeline to many young people growing up in South Westminster. These youngsters have a number of hurdles to face; from tight family budgets and intimidation of local estate tensions to threats such as drugs, knives and body image as well as social media bullying.

St Andrew’s Club is a ‘neutral’ environment, where committed and talented youth workers, helped by many volunteers, provide activities that are relevant in a safe, attractive building to around 700 members each year.

Having been privileged to be supported for many years with regular funding from Westminster City Council, these grants have now been cut, and so The Club is now almost entirely dependent upon the generosity of individual, charitable and corporate donations. They need to raise around £400,000 every year to keep the Club alive.

To make a donation and help give every young person in Westminster, and many beyond, the chance to thrive and give back to society through the varied youth programmes at St Andrew’s Club, see http://www.standrewsclub.com/index.php/support-us/how-donate-and-get-involved