As we approach the end of 2023, we’re taking a moment to look back on an incredible journey that Thatcham Youth has had this last year. Throughout the year, our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, and the local community have played a crucial role in shaping memorable experiences for Thatcham’s youth.
Despite changes in our team, we have remained committed to offering cost-effective activities for young people in Thatcham. We’re grateful for the support from various organizations like The National Lottery, The Good Exchange, Miss Lawrence Trust, and Thatcham Town Council. Special thanks to M-Theory Music for their contributions to providing music tutoring at The Zone Youth Club.
In this past year, both Vision Youth Club on Fridays and The Zone Youth Club on Mondays have truly flourished, becoming vibrant hubs for our local youth. Vision Youth Club consistently sees enthusiastic crowds on Friday nights (getting a ticket there is almost as tough as scoring one for Glastonbury Festival!). Meanwhile, The Zone Youth Club on Monday nights has evolved, reaching a broader audience by introducing engaging and creative activities. Who’d have guessed Bingo could spark such excitement and popularity!? We welcomed over 2000 young people at Vision Youth Club and more than 1200 at The Zone Youth Club this year. Additionally, we successfully brought back the Roller Disco toward the year’s end, providing fun for all ages within our local community.
We’ve had a calendar filled to the brim with various successful free events during Easter, Summer, and Christmas, aiming to bring joy to Thatcham’s young people and families. From our regular Family Fun Days and engaging Reptile Handling sessions to introducing new activities like paddleboarding at Waterside Centre, we strived to offer something exciting for everyone. We saw over 900 happy faces at these events. These accomplishments reflect the hard work of everyone involved with Thatcham Youth, and we’re excited to do more in the coming years.
Thatcham Youth offers a Young Leaders Programme for those aged 13-18. Through this initiative, we’ve witnessed remarkable growth in our Young Leaders, who’ve honed various skills, notably confidence and relationship building. Our recent trip to PGL for a weekend provided an enriching experience, enhancing team dynamics and empowering all participants to conquer personal challenges. Witnessing our Young Leaders thrive not only keeps us feeling youthful but also brings joy as we see some of them embark on exciting career paths.
Looking ahead to 2024, we’re bursting with excitement about the plans and ideas we have in store. We’re eager to launch new initiatives and reignite postponed projects. But none of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers. If you’re interested in joining our team, please reach out to us via Facebook message or email at paige.mcshane@thatchamyouth.org.uk.
As we wrap up this year, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who contributed to Thatcham Youth’s success. We’re committed to continuing our hard work and delivering projects that matter to the young people of Thatcham.
