The MYTI Youth Club meets at the Phoenix Centre next to Tadworth Leisure Centre in Preston Manor Road every Friday evening from 4.30 to 7.30 pm and from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm during school holidays.
It is the brainchild of a number of Preston residents led by local businessman Tony Britto. He says, “When I grew up in the area there was not much for kids to do, and because of this we often got into trouble. I therefore could see the need for a safe place where young people could meet and enjoy a range of activities that would keep them busy and teach them life skills.”
He started the MYTI club over three years ago. It receives a small grant from the YMCA and Active Surrey but is mainly financed by Tony himself. The Club is working on achieving charitable status which will hopefully allow it to obtain more financial support.
It is extremely popular with over 170 young people on the books and an average weekly attendance of around 100.
Football training is popular using the facilities of the Leisure Centre. Amy Burns, a teaching assistant at The Beacon School leads the training supported by young volunteers. In her earlier life she was a junior semi-professional footballer with Arsenal and Charlton Athletic. The Club also provided boxing and table tennis and has a music room and computer suite available to members.
It also provides refreshments to members free of charge and operates a tuck shop selling sweets and snacks.
Megan Ferguson, Tony’s P.A. and Managing Director of the Club, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Club. She also grew up in Banstead and sees the value MYTI provides to the local area. She says, “We have been working with the local police and they tell us that anti-social crime statistics have been significantly reduced in the area since the Club started.”
Something she is particularly proud of is that, whilst adults lead the club, it has a committee of five or six young leaders who help organise the Club and take responsibility for particular activities.
One, for example, has taken responsibilities for tuck shop finances whilst another organises the Club’s social media and another helps lead football training.
She says, “As well as providing a safe place and a range of activities for young people, we are also helping them to develop the life skills that will help them be successful in later life.”
with Megan Ferguson and the Club’s organisers and junior leaders
MYTI is holding an open day at the Phoenix Centre, from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm on Friday 15th April. Everyone is welcome, young and old. There will be a number of activities available and an opportunity to learn more about the Club’s work.
Donations to the Club can be made via its Gofund.me page: https://gofund.me/44dd55c7