The boys’ club in Mermaid Street needs help and organiser James Brill plans to attend the next meeting of the CfAiR (Campaign for Action in Rye) on February 25 at the Tilling Green Community Centre In Mason Road at 7 pm. Efforts to date to raise funds have not been successful and James needs support and advice.
The ethos of the Rye and District Boys’ Club (RBC), based in the old school building off Mermaid Street (pictured below) is “to help and educate youths resident in the Borough and District of Rye through their leisure time activities and so develop their physical and spiritual capacities to improve their condition in life.”
James Brill, who took over the Rye Boys Club in 2012, took voluntary redundancy from East Sussex County Council and with a colleague set up “Youth in Motion” (YIM) as a not for profit organisation.
They then tendered for projects in the West Sussex area, as all provision with East Sussex was under review, and were able to set up, successfully, projects outside East Sussex.
When James got involved in Rye there was only a youth provision for one evening a week at the RBC and the Trustees asked Youth in Motion if they could link up as partners with the intention of using the building as a community hub.
It was decided that they could offer not only the young people of Rye and the rural area a provision, but also try and change perception of how the rest of the community in Rye sees young people. Many ideas were discussed at the time and ultimately the Trustees decided that the main focus should be on young people with projects that could link into inter-generational projects and serve the whole community of Rye.
According to the Trustees some funds have been available, but James Brill knew from past experience that more fundraising was necessary to give the young people the resources and expertise they deserved and would benefit from – such as help with employment, IT, emotional support, team work and outreach – and YIM alongside the RBC charity made fundraising their priority to get projects started to attract the youth.
Talking to James I, sensed his enthusiasm in wanting to offer provisions for young and old and provide a creative space. James and friends, as well as some young people, have done wonders inside the building, creating a workable kitchen, which he would like to become a little cafe run by by the youngsters at the Boys Club.
One room has two billiard tables and a comfortable corner to sit and chat and upstairs there is a meeting/computer room ( no computers yet)/office which they have decked out beautifully, without much money but lots of slog.
There is also a large room which can be hired out for meetings. James is ambitious and would like the Boys Club to become a one stop shop where advice is given for the various problems young people or older individuals encounter – but that needs money.
His vision of this specific project is to deliver an advice, guidance and information centre which he would open three to five days a week for young people, along with a Youth Club for three evenings a week, including the Youth Cafe – which could also be open for the general public. James feels that there is so much potential to enhance lives and offer young and older people of Rye and surrounding area help to move forward.
James hopes to attend the CfAiR meeting next week, February 25th, to meet participants who may be able to help with his projects at the Boys Club.
Anyone who feels they can help with funding ideas or resources please contact me at: heidi42foster@gmail.com