Rosebowl Youth Club will remain shut over holidays despite petition protest

Published: 02 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

HUNDREDS of parents have signed a petition calling for an Islington youth club which closed in mysterious circumstances to reopen for the summer holidays – but it will remain shut until next year, the Tribune can reveal.

Islington Council confirmed this week that an investigation has been launched into the running of Rosebowl Youth Club before its shock closure in February.

More than 400 parents have signed a petition pressing for the club, off Essex Road, to reopen this summer. A group of mums have offered to step in temporarily to help run it. With the school holidays looming, they say the club is vital for those who cannot afford childcare.

But council officials have said the building will remain shut while a charity is found to manage the club. Alternative activities will be provided at nearby Walter Sickert Centre during the holidays.

A Town Hall spokeswoman said this week: “It was felt it would be better to run the scheme from the Walter Sickert Centre rather than confusing the issue by having it in the Rosebowl building for a short period.”

Single mother Oriel Hutchinson presented a petition to last week’s full council meeting.

She said the club was a vital resource. “I could have got thousands of names on the petition,” she said. “These children will be aimlessly wandering around.”

Her daughter, Bryony Clohnessy, 10, said: “I used to go there quite a lot. It was really fun. I miss it.”

Canonbury Labour councillor Faye Whaley has organised her own petition and wants the club to reopen as soon as possible. In the meantime, she believes the Walter Sickert facilities are “going to be fun for the kids”.

Parents have praised the Rosebowl’s low-cost trips, cooking and boxing classes and homework club. They said staff would cook for the children, escort them home and run girls’ clubs for youngsters too old for children’s games but not old enough to go out alone.

Mother-of-four Mandy Ackerman said: “The Rosebowl kept the kids straight. Now I get kids loitering around my doorway. The children miss it. When it closed we kind of felt bereaved.”

Adele Hayton, who has five children, and Nicky Ludgate said they were willing to run the club temporarily. Ms Hayton said: “It’s so important. We single parents can’t afford to take our children to places like Legoland. There should be something here.”

The council would not confirm the nature of the investigation but said it did not concern child protection matters.

The centre, which was vandalised in protest at the removal of one of the staff in February, has been repaired and is fit for use.

A programme of play and learning sessions and day trips will be held at the Walter Sickert Centre from 9.30am-4.30pm from July 26 to August 20.