The charity giving North Yorkshire’s young people a better future: Carl Les
Some years ago, whilst still a newly elected member, I was invited by a senior county councillor to become a governor of our village primary school. It was the start of a 25-year journey of volunteering in a number of schools, both in primary settings and at a secondary school in Risedale within Catterick Garrison, serving my division and, for a time, on the board of Darlington College when it opened a satellite unit in Catterick.
It was a journey, however challenging at times, that I have never regretted. I have encouraged numerous members of family and friends to do the same, and I would appeal to folk to come forward today. The provision of a good education is one of the most important rights we can ensure our children enjoy.
That same senior councillor was responsible for education in North Yorkshire for a number of years. He understood that education is not only school-based but also provided within the community.
Presently I’m going to “night school” every Tuesday evening to learn something new, amidst a small class of adult learners. He was on the trustee board of an organisation called North Yorkshire Youth (NYY), based near Thirsk, and sometime after he got me into school governance, he invited me to visit NYY, and subsequently to join them. Another decision I’ve never regretted.
The charity was founded in 1941, actually on the lawns of Crathorne Hall, by Lady Crathorne to provide activities for young women in the area. It was well at the forefront of the early development of youth clubs. She was the guiding light, becoming in effect the first president, and this role was continued by her son James Dugdale, Lord Crathorne, as the charity expanded to be open to boys as well as girls and moved to Carlton Lodge near Thirsk in 1968 – a farmhouse with ponds offering water activities.
As the charity grew, it changed its name a few times, from the North Riding Association of Youth Clubs to Youth Clubs North Yorkshire until its present title of North Yorkshire Youth in 2006. Lord Crathorne retired from the role last year, and we were very pleased to welcome his daughter, Charlotte, to our AGM last week, where she became our new president, continuing the family’s support and connection with the charity.
The purpose of the charity remains true to its original intentions. It champions early intervention and prevention, creating safe spaces and nurturing environments where young people, often those disadvantaged, can thrive. Through adventurous activities, youth clubs, mentoring, outreach, and skills development, the organisation fosters confidence building, resilience and personal development.
There are two arms to the charity, the first being youth development across the county and into York, operating through a diverse range of services from large group activities and small group interventions down to one-to-one mentoring.
Wherever a young person lives in North Yorkshire, they can access guidance, positive activities, trusted relationships and opportunities to help them thrive. This can be through attending one of our 17 NYY Youth Clubs, or one of the voluntary clubs we support, or participation in a targeted programme solving a problem, or even individual mentoring. There is somewhere to turn to, with prevention being a key driver.
Around 90 per cent offered the Change Direction intervention, accepted it and built a meaningful relationship with their Youth Mentor, so 220 young people accessed support through the scheme. Over 90 per cent did not offend or reoffend within 12 months of leaving the programme. 89 per cent of young people attending our youth clubs returned after their first visit, and NYY provided 3,344 hours of youth club provision across North Yorkshire and York, including provision paid for by third parties such as Catterick Parish Council in the division I represent. Figures illustrate the situation, but behind every statistic is a young person whose confidence has been increased, whose wellbeing has improved, or whose future opportunities have been enhanced.
The second arm is Carlton Lodge Activity Centre, a short-break “hotel” for young people. Dormitory accommodation is now enhanced by a recent modular new build, Lake House, an indoor sports hall with climbing wall, outdoor climbing poles and zip wires, acres of grass and woodland, an ever-growing drystone wall added to by visiting groups, and of course the lake.
Continuous improvement is part of the business plan, and recent additions are new windows and solar panels, grant-aided by the mayor for environmental and running cost reasons.
Most of the customers are returning schools, but our marketing reaches out to old and new ones. A junior cycling team stayed this year whilst racing nearby. Our Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Residential was the most attended we have hosted. A total of 510 fires were responsibly lit at bushcraft, 242 rafts were built, and 634,176 baked beans consumed. Let the purpose continue.
Carl Les is the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council