A YOUTH charity has launched a club aiming to engage nine to 12-year-olds in activities ranging from drumming to gardening.

The scheme in Thirsk, funded by housing association Broadacres in partnership with The Clock, will see experienced youth co-ordinator Adam Wilding develop structured activities and support volunteers to staff the weekly sessions.

Other activities could include cooking, fundraising and arts and crafts.

Abigail Homer, the charity's chief executive, said numerous nine to 11-year-olds had previously asked to join The Clock and the junior youth club would provide a safe meeting place with activities and informal education.

Emily Thomas, Broadacres’ community involvement manager, said the body was keen to provide young people with positive activities that provide them with a greater breadth of experience and skills which they will find useful in later life.

She said: “Youth projects like this have also been instrumental in dramatically reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour in areas where we have homes and we have had feedback from volunteers and parents which say it also leads to improvements in young peoples’ behaviour.”

Club sessions will be held on most Wednesdays, from 5pm to 7pm, at The Clock's base in the Methodist Church Hall, St James Green, Thirsk.

For details, call 01845-524 494 or email Adam@theclock.org