Ownership is the key to a new youth club for youngsters with learning disabilities.

The club, which calls itself simply The Youth Group, meets every week at the Springdale Centre in Thorpe Edge for music and activities.

And parent Maralyn Adey says it is left up to the youngsters themselves to decide exactly what they want to do.

"The difference with this group is that we don't put any pressure on them. The parents are there as helpers but we sit in another room and try to leave them to it," she said.

"Sometimes we might bring candle-making kits along and if they want to do that they can, but we don't force them. It's important to let them know it's their club."

The Youth Group was started nine months ago when Maralyn and her friend Carol Beardmore realised there was little for teenagers with learning disabilities to do in Bradford.

Maralyn, whose son Kristian has Down's Syndrome and is a friend of Carol's daughter, Natalie, said: "They've both come up to 14 now and there was absolutely nothing for them to do. We thought maybe they could have their own youth group.

"We told some parents that we knew who had children aged from nine to 16, which is the age group it is aimed at, and we have got a steady stream of kids now."

One aspect of The Youth Group which makes it different is that it is not exclusively geared towards learning disabilities.

"It is their club but they bring along their brothers and sisters or friends and we also occasionally get some visitors from the Brunswick Road Centre or Cavendish House who might have either physical or learning disabilities," said Maralyn.

Youngsters are charged £1 a week plus 10p for pop and crisps.

That money is used to pay for equipment.

The group has also been boosted by support from the Bronte branch of the Rotary Club of Bradford which has chosen it as its latest charity.

It is now hoping to organise a trip for youngsters to a specialist outdoor activities centre in Kendal in the summer using some of the money raised by Rotary members.

Anyone interested in the group, which meets every Friday from 6.30pm to 8pm, should ring Maralyn on (01274) 611004 or Carol on (01274) 622045.

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