From 20 youngsters in a room over a baker's shop to a community centre with 350 members, the Sedbergh Club for Young People in Odsal, Bradford, is now preparing a National Lottery bid to help finance a £2.75 million rebuilding programme. Suzy Poole reports on the past, present and future of Bradford's unique youth service.

IT ALL STARTED above a baker's shop in Little Horton in 1906.

Bradford textile barons, who sent deprived children to Sedbergh School in Cumbria, decided to set up a club with the same name to enhance the "physical, spiritual and moral wellbeing of young boys."

More than 90 years later, the Sedbergh Centre attracts boys and girls from as far afield as Halifax, runs counselling for disaffected children yet still takes pride in its traditional boxing prowess.

As a sports and youth club, it was the first of its kind in the UK and is a notable success story.

Its mission statement is to provide positive opportunities for the young in South Bradford, using sport and cultural activities to keep them off the streets and teach them skills for adult life.

But since Government funding was cut two years ago, it has had to rely on volunteers, local fundraising and financial help from nearby chemical firm Ciba to keep going.

Its current premises, a 1960s purpose-built block on Huddersfield Road, are now crumbling around its 350 members and facilities are in poor state of repair.

"The only addition to the building since it was built are some dressing rooms," said centre manager Arnold Butterfield, 40, who has attended the club since the age of seven.

"But we have got a lot of dedicated people. All our workers are qualified and our coaches are qualified in their own sport. I think that's one of our strengths. They give up their spare time to train and raise their own funds."

The centre is in constant use, with a youth club three evenings a week and training sessions for football, rugby, baseball and boxing. Other facilities include snooker tables, IT equipment, open discussion groups and club holidays.

And during the day, personal development sessions by the Joint Action Service (JAS) help youngsters who have played truant or missed schooling rebuild their confidence and return to the classroom. Last year the service introduced 140 youngsters back into full-time education.

JAS is just one of many youth agencies who work hand-in-hand with the centre. And the club already has 35 others knocking on the door of the proposed £2.75 million sports and youth centre, such as Bradford Bulls' community programme and Bradford and Ilkley College.

The idea, says Brian Sanderson of Marketing First, the Bradford and Leeds based firm in charge of the project, is to make the new centre a 'one stop shop' for all youths.

He said: "Sport transcends barriers - cultural, financial, racial. People in Bradford have all seen the value of this club as a non-threatening environment and a positive role model.

"The centre is bang in the middle of five large estates but it's non-territorial.

"We let kids wander around the estates at night and wonder why they get into trouble. If we get them into the club, anything's possible."

An initial application to the Sports Lottery Fund for the new building was made earlier this year but members will have to raise half the money themselves to get the project off the ground. Mr Sanderson said: "To get capital for new buildings is the most difficult and we have to match 50 per cent of the cost. One of the crucial things is finding other funds from public partners as well as private ones."

Plans for the new centre include five new sports fields, an indoor sports hall and bar area with family rooms.

But even with its cracked tarmac pitches and limited space, the present club scores a hit with the most important people - the young.

"It's really good fun," says Kimberley Kelly, 13, a member for more than three years

"You get to hang out with people and have a really good time. And they encourage us to learn."

Sixteen-year-old Simon Knowles says there's another advantage.

"If you're struggling with your homework, they'll sit you down and help you," he said. "It's funky."

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe (Lab) has backed the plan for new facilities at the Sedburgh centre.

"It's valuable because it offers opportunities for young people that are not available elsewhere and because of its location," he said.

"The centre takes people off the estates and from the surrounding area."

About 35 community groups flocked to a meeting chaired by Mr Sutcliffe in December to get involved in the launch of the new project.

The centre already works in partnership with the police, youth, social and education services to combat youth crime, drugs and social exclusion.

New projects for the centre include an art programme as part of the Safe Cities Initiative, a partnership with the Royds Community Association and Bradford Bulls' use of the new pitches for its community programme, which helps about 2,600 children in Bradford.

If anybody is interested in helping to raise funds or sponsor the project, call Marketing First on (01535) 637999 or (0113) 204 0208.

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