A NEW youth club has been launched in Tiptree for youngsters to get together and learn new skills.

Tiptree Youth Project Outreach (TYPO) has set up the weekly youth club for children of secondary school age at Tiptree Community Centre, where participants can turn up without registration at 4.30pm each Wednesday.

The man behind setting up the youth group is 58-year-old Andy Butt, the community youth worker for TYPO.

Mr Butt, along with fellow youth worker Ben Randall, came up with the idea after they realised there were few activities for availing themselves to young people in the village.

And Wednesday saw the first meeting of the youth club with 12 children turning up as the group looked to decide which activities they would offer in the coming months.

Mr Butt said: “We were aware that there was not enough happening for people in the area – but on Wednesday we had a chat with the kids about what activities they want us to do with them.

“Things are very fluid at the moment and will be for the next couple of weeks whilst we settle down with a programme of activities.”

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It is still early days for the Tiptree Youth Club, and Mr Butt explained the interests of the different children attending were wide-ranging.

“The kids would love to do some baking, play some games, do some crafts, and others want to tackle more serious issues – we’re looking for a real breadth of interest.

“Everyone says there’s nothing for young people to do in Tiptree, but the problem is it’s not easy for people to find out what there is.”

The next step for the club is to recruit more volunteers.

There are currently four adults who are involved in the running of the youth club, though Mr Butt said they were still hoping for more.

“I want to see young people flourish,” he added.

“We will be drawing on more volunteers, and if anyone is interested in helping we would like them to get in touch.”

Mr Butt can be contacted on andy@typo.uk.net.