On Friday night around 20 athletes from various groups in the club met up for a couple of hours to socialise and christen the new pool and table-tennis tables in the clubhouse. There was also an X-box which permanently had a huddle around it, Wii and other bits and pieces. Up in the cafe some younger siblings sat and watched a DVD supervised by a few parents who were having a good blether and a cuppa...or two...or three (Ali Johnston is getting a huge thumbs up in my book as she made my hot chocolate with milk, but ssshhhh... don't tell anyone!). Other parents were happy to drop off the kids for a few hours and get some peace.
All in all it was a really good/relaxed night and great to see the athletes mixing. Feedback was good, the girls perhaps would like a couple more activities (afraid Fifa 15 just wasn't hitting the spot with them) and we will get this organised for the next one.
The plan is to make this a monthly Youth Club and hold them on the first Friday of the month. We are concsious that things get a bit hectic in December so we will postpone the next one until Friday 9th January.
Longer term, this will also be a good wee fundraiser for club funds without being too expensive for parents. Cost was £2.50 which included some refreshments and most kids came along with a fiver so they could grab some extra juice and mix-ups from the cafe.
Thanks to our Social sub-committee for organising this, I can see it really taking off and look forward to the Summer months when we can get a parents v athletes game of rounders on the go. In the meantime a good chat and a hot chocolate will suffice :-)
These events will be a "turn up on the night" format so put the date in the diary and we might see you there in January.