MGB Kenton - Kulanu
Maccabi GB, in partnership with UJIA, is pleased to announce that one of its leading affiliates, Kenton Maccabi (now known as Maccabi GB Kenton), has redeveloped and renamed its community Youth Centre. The centre will now be known as "Kulanu" which, in Ivrit means "all of us together". The Youth Centre first opened its doors approximately 30 years ago. For many years Maccabi GB Kenton has been one of the most successful of all the Maccabi clubs in England. There have been many innovative programmes at Maccabi GB Kenton and the centre has played a big part in the lives of many hundreds of young people
in the Kenton community (and beyond) many of whom have themselves gone on to play a role on the larger stage of Jewish youth and community life.
Richard Feldman who is a former chairman of Maccabi GB and who currently sits on the board of Maccabi Europe has been involved with the Kenton centre since its inception. Richard said "All organisations have to evolve and adapt to changing times and circumstances. Over the last year or so the trustees of Kenton Youth Aid Trust decided that, in order for the centre to remain relevant and to continue to be a valuable resource for the foreseeable future, changes had to be made. A view was taken that the traditional youth club catering solely for fixed age groups was no longer an appropriate model going forward. Younger people have greater independence and an ability to socialise either at school, at home or in the many virtual social forums that now exist".
The past year has seen the Youth Centre undergo a huge refurbishment and it now boasts a modern cushioned gym floor, completely refurbished toilets and a snooker room with a full sized table. Further improvements are planned over the coming months.
An extensive programme of youth, sport and community activities is now in place with the first sessions starting at the end of this month. In addition the centre will be offering coaching in football, cricket and basketball. The programme will be of appeal to all age groups and sections of the community and will offer a variety of other activities over the coming months including: ulpan classes, bridge, drama, computer courses martial arts, yoga, Pilates, keep fit, dance and others. In addition a crèche for parents to drop off their children so that they can attend the morning activities at the centre has already been established.
Richard continued "I wish to thank the various organisations that have shared our vision for the future of the centre. In particular thanks must go to Maccabi GB, The Children's Aid Foundation, Gary and Paul fund, Oxford and St Georges and the Jewish Youth Fund who have all contributed their valuable assistance. We still believe in the importance of providing meaningful leisure, sporting and educational programs for young Jewish people in a warm and welcoming environment, and although vast numbers of young Jewish people now attend our day schools in this country it is our intention to supplement the formal setting with quality programs for people of all ages at Kulanu."
For more details e mail info@kulanu.org.uk or call 020 8907 8054 / 07534 22 00 57. For a full timetable of programmes please visit www.kulanu.org