Causeway Recreational Activity

Boys Club

A club for teenage boys with SLD

Crab Club

Crab Club

Simple Model

One Co-ordinator

8 members

Team of 9 Leaders (3 on a club night)

Range of activities from Archery to their own

Youth Club

Established15 years ago to provide short

breaks to 4 boys during the summer 2001

Continued to operate, grow and develop

because it

WORKS

Crab Club

Managers tell us it meets a need

and it is cost effective.

Crab Club

Parents tell us

“It’s been a lifeline to my son.”

“he learns the social rules the natural way,

not in a classroom.

“my son’s success with this youth club has

given me the confidence to move forward

with him”

Parents tell us

“I know my son is safe and well looked after

at club”

“It’s better than respite”

“Best thing to happen to my son, the timing

couldn’t have been better. He was down

and lonely”

“In all ways socially, confidence grew,

social skills grew, frustration and

aggression settled. He learned how to

communicate.”

Yes

“He learnt to be a boy. It was not just 4

walls. He learnt to interact with other

family members more. He told us

about what he did at the club. He never

came out of his room (except for

school) before he went to the club.

Yes

The change was noticeable from the

first week and it just grew and grew. If

not for the club L would have been lost

–institutional- we were losing him.”

“My mental health improved. I had the

break. I was seeing L be happy. To see

him change was just amazing. He was in a

dark place and to watch him come out of it.

I don’t know what I would have done

without the club. I had time with my other

child. The club was regular and

consistent.”

Yes

“The club is the leaders. They know

how to build the boys trust and

confidence. They are easily

approachable for the boy and the

leader understands them. The leaders

were L’s first friends. First ever contact

with the outside world. They helped

him to understand. Without the club L

would be a recluse.”

Themes from Parental feedback

Though parents appreciated the break they

valued the change and development in their

son more.

All reported an increase in confidence and

happiness in their sons.

All reported that their sons were more

sociable.

Their sons did not feel ‘different’

And

Were doing things like a ‘normal

teenager’

The boys tell us

“I get to see my friends every week”

“I love it I need it”

“It gives me something to look forward to”

“It is a great way to make friends”

Our Observations