About Us

LABGC is a vibrant voluntary youth organisation operating across the palatine of Lancashire since 1934.

As an infrastructure organisation we support a network of over 100 member clubs across Lancashire with support and advice, representation, policies and procedures, best practice, training, access to new opportunities and experiences, positive activities, personal social development programmes, young leader training and accreditation.

We play a major role in the wider network of the National Association of Boys & Girls Clubs est 1926, that is made up of 28 counties nationwide including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

LABGC member organisations are at the heart of our work. It is our firm view that the work of LABGC is becoming increasingly more important in light of the continued reduction in financial support over the past 10 yrs of young people’s services and the current challenges facing young people and the voluntary services across Lancashire that are there to support them.

To best address these challenges, we know it is vital that we work collaboratively with our member clubs and the wider voluntary youth sector to provide activities and support services that best suits their needs; there have been many successes and achievements over the past few years, which is a great testament to the on-going commitment of the association staff, club leaders, staff and volunteers who have shown dedication and resilience in continuing to provide good quality services to young people despite the challenging times.

We aim to present an offer that fully reflects our commitment to supporting our member clubs and other groups working with young people along with a direct delivery programme that provides opportunities for the county wide engagement of young people including competitive opportunities that progress into National events and competitions.

We are proud of our solid network of members who all have a shared commitment to ensuring that together we meet the needs of vulnerable and at risk young people who are disadvantaged, often living in deprived communities across Lancashire to enable them to access opportunities and new experiences that support their personal and social development so that they may grow into caring and responsible citizens.

MISSION STATEMENT

To inspire and enable all young people, especially those considered to be disadvantaged, to realise their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

OUR VISION

To assist and support member clubs in providing a safe and exciting place for young people in which they can participate in a range of activities and develop through positive experiences.

• Where they can make new friends and learn about themselves and realise their potential as responsible citizens in their community.
• To maximise the resources of the Association by working in conjunction with its member clubs and the national organisation to achieve its purpose.
• When available, we share our experience and facilities for the benefit of youth organisations throughout Lancashire.

MEMBER CLUBS

Our network comprises a wide range of youth clubs, youth and community organisations, boxing clubs, specialist support and activity clubs. They provide positive social development activities, training, support and advice, advocacy, advice and guidance on a weekly basis with over 10,000 children and young people, many of whom are disadvantaged, live in deprived communities and can often be affected by multiple complex social barriers. See a table of our current member clubs below.

Our direct delivery programme provides opportunities for county wide engagement of young people including competitive opportunities that progress into National events and competitions. Our annual awards evening recognises the achievements of young people throughout the year along with the acknowledgement, commitment and dedication of the volunteers who support them.

By supporting member clubs, together we are able to provide young people with: 

• An attractive, affordable and planned programme of positive activities and events that support their personal social development    
• A safe place for them to learn and grow into mature responsible citizens
• Access to on-going voluntary relationships with caring adults to support them through the complex challenges of adolescence 
• New opportunities and experiences to support their spirit of adventure and identify and unlock hidden talent
• Access to young people’s accreditation and training to develop young people skills and interests

LABGC have adopted UK Youth’s model for young people’s social development journey.

The UK Youth Social Development Journey provides a framework to support and empower young people to develop life skills.

LABGC are fortunate to have a small, dedicated team of staff with a diverse range of skills in order to deliver our vast menu of activities and services.

LABGC is an unincorporated charity reg no; 521362 governed by a dedicated board of trustees from a diverse range of backgrounds and voluntary sector organisations.

Executive Committee

• Chairman        Gary Stephenson
• Vice Chair        Michael Gibson
• Trustee            Nick Eckersley
• Trustee            Phil George (Legal Advisor)
• Trustee            Dr. Robin Graham
• Trustee            Keith Gillies
• Trustee            Terry Mattinson (Youth Action Groups)
• Trustee            Pete Riley (Blackpool Boys & Girls Club)
• Trustee            Tom Norton MBE

We are continually on the look out for new trustees.
If you are interested in becoming a trustee for LABGC please email adrian@labgc.org.uk to arrange an informal chat and to find out how you or your organisation can support us.

LABGC is fortunate to have the support of a President and Vice Presidents who provide advocacy through representation at events and support the work of the association.

The associations President has historically been the serving Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary.

President:

• Sacha Hatchett – Chief Constable, Lancashire Constabulary

Vice Presidents:

• Bill Beaumont CBE
• Don Sidebottom MBE, FCIHT
• Wendy Walker QPM

LABGC is fortunate to have support from a host of local businesses and organisations with various aspects of our work whether its through grants, donations of funding, equipment & resources, staff time, services, advocacy, promotion & marketing or businesses who wish to fulfil their corporate social responsibility – every little helps. If you would like to support us or would like to learn about how your business / organisation may be able to support us please contact Adrian@labgc.org.uk

Funders

Garfield Weston / National Lottery Community Fund / The D J Sidebottom / Glasdon Charitable Programme /  Bhim Ruia Foundation / Russell Haldane Charitable Trust / Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund / Community Foundation for Lancashire / John Laing Charitable Trust / Joseph Strong Frazer Trust / WO Street Foundation / Westminster Foundation / Francis C Scott Charitable Trust / Areti Charitable Trust / Lancaster City Council / HDH Wills1965 Charitable Trust / ABBVIE / SPORTED Foundation / Lancaster University Wind Turbine Fund

Business / Fundraising Support

University of Cumbria / University of Lancaster / Glenmuir 1891 / BT Local Business / 

Our 2020 Vision development plan was written in 2017 with information gleaned from our member clubs, young people and wider networks of organisations supporting young people.

A youth club flourishes when it realises the full potential of all of its young people, but in order for this to happen we need to ensure the workforce is well equipped to operate effectively with the right support, skills, expertise, knowledge and access to external providers to enable them to support the young people they work with to thrive in the complex world they are exposed to.

LABGC staff carried out a series of consultation exercises in 2016 with member clubs and other youth groups, to identify gaps in service, needs of clubs, how to incorporate the Arts into youth work and how we are best able to support club leaders and compliment their work with young people.

The results of the consultation identified some key areas which our development plan focused on in 2017. The 2 yrs. thereafter 2018/19 see continued close liaison with clubs to identify further development needs to sustain a model that allows for 2020 vision across Lancashire.

LABGC will strive to provide

• A diverse range of stimulating, attractive and challenging activities
• Subsidised access to an attractive programme of activity
• Improved quality and quantity of training opportunities for youth work staff and volunteers
• Opportunities for young people’s social development through leadership programmes, accredited learning and social action

These small steps will support our aim for young people to get the best start in life, through the opportunity of high quality youth provision.

Nobody understands the needs of young people in some of the most deprived communities in Lancashire better than the youth work staff working alongside them on a daily/weekly basis, therefore it is imperative for us to continue to consult with club leaders and volunteers on a regular basis to ensure that together we can create the difference that is needed. You can find our full development plan here.

Please see below links to our annual reports over the past 10 yrs. These can also be accessed via the charity commission website at www.gov.uk

LABGC Annual Reports & Financial Statement

• Year Ending 31st March 2024
• Year Ending 31st March 2023
• Year Ending 31st March 2022
• Year Ending 31st March 2021
• Year Ending 31st March 2020
• Year Ending 31st March 2019
• Year Ending 31st March 2018
• Year Ending 31st March 2017
• Year Ending 31st March 2016
• Year Ending 31st March 2015
• Year Ending 31st March 2014
• Year Ending 31st March 2013
• Year Ending 31st March 2012
• Year Ending 31st March 2011
• Year Ending 31st March 2010
• Year Ending 31st March 2009

The Association was formed in 1934 as the Lancashire Association of Boys’ Clubs but is now known as the Lancashire Association of Boys and Girls Clubs, or LABGC for short.

Later in 1934, led by Earl Peel and supported by leading figures from the business community, they formed the Lancashire Association of Boys’ Clubs, of which Earl Peel was elected as the first president.  Our original objectives were to:

• Promote the establishment of clubs
• Assist existing clubs
• Secure workers
• Train leaders
• Arrange inter-club visits
• Arrange weekend camps for leaders and senior members

The Association has adapted and changed over the years to welcome females into membership, although our objectives remain the same. In 1995, we changed our name to the Lancashire Association of Clubs for Young People in line with our National association, however in 2011 we re-named the organisation Lancashire Boys and Girls Clubs to reflect our original links to our founder clubs around Lancashire.