Creetown Initiative was asked by the Holywood Trust 
to take over the management of Newton Stewart Youth Club in 2013, after the former Newton Stewart Initiative folded. We ran the youth club in Newton Stewart for 5 years, providing a weekly junior club for young people aged 10 – 12 and a senior club for young people aged 13 – 17. Initially we operated out of the Community Centre in Newton Stewart before it was closed by the Council, then we moved the youth clubs to the Old Canteen building attached to the Douglas Ewart High School. When this building was demolished, as part of the high school development, we moved the youth club to the Newton Stewart Centre, formerly known as “The Hut”. 
A Broad Range of Activities and Opportunities
Our team of 3 highly skilled and fully qualified youth workers delivered a range of different activities with the young people ranging from sports and games, to film making, arts and crafts, cookery, baking and STEM activities. 
We carried out topical workshops including debates and discussions, workshops with outside organisations, including Dumfries and Galloway LGBTQ+, NHS Sexual Health, Cool2Talk, Youth Parliament, Building Healthy Communities, Police Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, Dumfries and Galloway Council Community Safety Team, as well as workshops lead by professionals, including artists, musicians, outdoor specialists and sports coaches.
Youth Trips
Over the five years we worked with over 300 young people and delivered 15
trips, including Air Space Trampoline Park, Energi Trampoline Park, Theatre Royal pantomime, laser quest, bowling, inflatable water assault course, Laggan Outdoor centre, skiing, aerial assault Course, rock climbing, Youth Beatz music festival and swimming.
Young Volunteer Programme
We also ran a young volunteers programme for young people aged 14 +, who volunteered at the junior youth club, worked with the children, helped to run and organise activities and gain Saltire Awards – nationally recognised qualifications. We also had a lot of referrals from the Duke of Edinburgh Awards volunteering challenge.
Handing Back Over
At the end of December 2018 Creetown Initiative handed the youth clubs back over to the Newton Stewart Initiative. Newton Stewart Initiative has reformed as a completely new Board and has been building up its own portfolio of projects over the past few years. The organisation now feels it has the capacity to move forwards with the managing and development of the Newton Stewart Youth Clubs and youth work in their town and we wish them the best of luck for the future.
For more information about the other youth work activities being managed by Creetown Initiative please go to Creetown Senior Youth Club and Creetown Youth Friday Night Sports, or contact our Senior Youth Worker, Amy, on 01671 8210654, or amydeewatson@gmail.com.
