A Question and Answer Guide to Starting a Club

Question: What are Boys and Girls Clubs?

Answer: Depending on where you're from, the name "Boys and Girls Club" could conjure up visions of "a summer camp," "a recreational program," "a group home," "a school age child care service," "a drug counseling program," "a self-help program for parents," "a leadership development program," "peer counseling," "a support program for teen mothers," or "a program that works with street youth."

And you would be right on all counts – with some smaller communities needing and supporting one or two approaches, and larger urban centres encompassing many. So as you can see. Boys and Girls Clubs are not just buildings – they are community-based systems of getting important programs and services to children, youth, and families who need them most.

Question: Are programs offered always called "Boys and Girls Clubs"?

Answer: No – while some are, the name might not fit for programs that have a special focus or serve older teens; so while all services will be acknowledged as sponsored by Boys and Girls Clubs, you'll often find they will have names like Odyssey, Parents Together, First Steps, Nexus, Turning Point, Family Crafters, NOOPA (No Ordinary People Allowed), The Corner, Circle of Friends, Reconnect, etc.

Question: Are Boys and Girls Clubs only for kids in trouble?

Answer: No – they're welcome, but Boys and Girls Clubs are for all kids. Most new Boys and Girls Club services happen because someone in a community identifies some needs that reduce chances for children and young people to grow towards happy and responsible adulthood. Boys and Girls Club services are driven by the needs of young people who deserve the support of family and significant adults.

We realize that nobody likes to be labeled – that what children and teens really look for is excitement, challenge, new experiences, and a chance to share and achieve with their friends. Happily, the chance for adults to guide, influence, and counsel comes to those who offer such opportunities.

Question: What makes Boys and Girls Clubs services different?

Answer: We're not sure they are different – but we do know they are based onour Mission Statement and our set of Core Values to which all Boys and Girls Clubs subscribe. If you haven't already read them, we urge you to do so. They will form the basic checklist against which any effort towards establishing Boys and Girls Club services will be measured should you choose to go further with us.

Question: What kinds of programs and services work best?

Answer: Each community must answer this question for itself, based on needs and desires of children and youth, and services already available. It's useful to start by documenting what young people want, parents need, and volunteers are prepared to lead. Some ideas: drama, cooking, auto mechanics, bicycle repairing, photography, peer counseling, fishing, hiking, floor hockey, just for girls, model building, ceramics, silk screening, woodworking, judo, weightlifting, junior leadership, camping, special events, newspaper club, computer club – the sky's the limit, subject to your values and availability of volunteers and space.

Some Clubs offer more specialized services such as programs for substance-abusing teens, employment projects for teens, services for teen mothers, programs for school dropouts or street youth, and support groups for parents in conflict with their teenagers.

What will work "best" for your community is to believe in your ability to solve your own problems with your own resources. Boys and Girls Clubs believe that every community has the ability:

• to get others involved;
• to develop innovative solutions; and
• to find the necessary resources.

Question: How do Boys and Girls Clubs services get started?

Answer: There's only one way – with a desire to help children and youth. The idea to start a Boys and Girls Club may come from an individual or a group of adults; from an existing organization or a group just getting together for the first time. Wherever the idea comes from, the objective is to provide a service that cannot be met through existing agencies or services. (After all, why incur increased financial and leadership costs if existing services can adjust to meet the need?)

Five principles guide the development of new Boys and Girls Club services:

1. All services must be consistent with the Mission and Core Values of Boys and Girls Clubs.
2. Parents, children, and youth must be involved in the exploration, planning, and implementation processes.
3. All services must address an identified need for children and youth that is currently not being met by existing agencies.
4. All services are developmental in that they assist the child or youth in building and advancing skills of self-esteem, responsible behaviours and attitudes, leadership, etc.
5. All participants – staff, volunteers, families, funders, and members – are considered to be stakeholders within the development of a healthier community.

Not every new Club will start by offering the same services. Services depend on the resources available, including volunteers and funding, and the needs of the community. The services you offer will develop as the interests of your members become more defined.

Question: What can Boys and Girls Clubs of BC do to help us decide if we need and want to start a program?

Answer: Boys and Girls Club of British Columbia can help you to:

• determine the needs of children and youth in your community;
• prioritize the most important issues to start working on;
• look at service/program options - decide which ones are right for you;
• develop the essential adult advisory committee or board you'll need to ensure continuity of your programs;
• train your staff, whether volunteer or paid;
• sell your idea to those who control the facilities or resources you'll need to provide your program; and
• make use of ongoing consultation, training, and information exchanges so you can benefit from and contribute to our Canada-wide network of services.