Redesign, parkour, cooking. This is an activity offer that will be tested at the newly started leisure club Laksevåg Ung, which will take place at the newly opened Holen school in Bergen. You do not have to participate in activities. One can also come just to hang out, or talk to a safe adult. Laksevåg youth lack a place to be until this offer opens. – It means a lot to be able to come here and cook and learn new cooking techniques, says Trym Faye Engevik (15). Significant decline Leisure clubs are an important social arena for many young people, but there have been fewer and fewer Norwegian leisure clubs in the last 10 years. In 2010, Norway had 735 clubs. Ten years later, only 625 were found. This is a decrease of 15 percent. MUST BE LAWFUL: Ane Aamodt in Save the Children is frustrated that the responsibility for the leisure clubs is shared between the ministries. Photo: Save the Children – Children and young people want a meeting place that is free and free of performance pressure, says Ane Aamodt in Save the Children. She leads Save the Children’s campaign against the closure of leisure clubs, and addresses a demand to Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen (Labor Party): It should be legislated that all Norwegian municipalities must have a leisure club. – In 75 percent of the cases, weak municipal finances are the reason why leisure clubs are closed down. An enactment of legislation would mean that the leisure clubs did not have to fight for their existence, and give rise to long-term planning, says Aamodt. The requirement is based on the new report A good place to be. It is based on conversations with children and young people who use the leisure clubs. Here it is stated that the leisure clubs are an important hub in the local community, and important for friendship and fun, regardless of who one belongs to. Learning and fun The boys who cook at Laksevåg Ung are happy to have the premises at Holen school. – The adults here are very nice, and help us when we need it, says Jørgen Tømmerås Sæther (16). Nicolai Mjølmen Nylund, Kasper Fjell Flatholm, Aksel Myren Myster, Elias Geitreim Djønne, Trym Faye Engevik, Jørgen Tømmerås Sæther Photo: Marion Hestholm / NRK Ane Aamodt in Save the Children confirms that adult contact is important. – Some tell that the leisure club has shaped further life choices, because they as young people have gained access to music equipment, or met a good dance instructor at the club. Others say that the most important thing is to be able to talk to the adults, says Aamodt. The tenants at Laksevåg Ung can recognize these needs. – One adapts to what the young people need. If they want someone to sit down and talk to them, if they need homework help, or something else, says Camilla Trosterud. Marte Hagebø thinks it is important that the club is close to the city where the young people live, and Holen School is the perfect city, surrounded by housing. – There must be a low threshold to get here. The young people are good at using the club teachers. – Even though they want to be independent and take responsibility, they are still children, says Hagebø. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT AND COORDINATOR: Marjolein Roozen and Linn Broderstad are involved in the start-up of Laksevåg Ung. Photo: Marion Hestholm / NRK – Legislation can strengthen the clubs The Ministry of Culture reports to NRK that they can not take a position on Save the Children’s demands for legislation, and forwards the question to Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp). – Legislation is a possible way to strengthen the clubs, but I will not go in for it without considering other alternatives and their consequences for the field. We have strengthened the municipal economy so that the municipalities can more easily prioritize leisure clubs, writes Toppe to NRK. – Save the Children experiences that the leisure clubs are forgotten, and that the government shifts responsibility for the leisure clubs between the ministries. Can the government clearly clarify who its mandate is? – The state responsibility for the leisure club field is divided between the Ministry of Culture and Gender Equality and the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, writes Toppe. Fell between two chairs The challenge is precisely that the club field is divided between the two ministries. Therefore, it falls between two chairs. – We think it is best to place the leisure clubs under the Culture Act, which will now be revised, says Ane Aamodt in Save the Children. – We would like to challenge the Minister of Culture on how the government can ensure better frameworks for leisure clubs – so that all children get a leisure club in their immediate environment. NEW COOKING TECHNIQUES: The boys in the cooking group distribute tasks. Photo: Marion Hestholm / NRK
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More than a hundred leisure clubs closed down since 2010 – NRK Vestland
