Did you go along to the Sulgrave Youth Club as a kid, or did you volunteer there?
As the Shepherds Bush club nears its 100th anniversary, it's inviting current and former members, and local residents, to join a centenary project to record memories... and unearth old photographs.
Now a registered charity called Sulgrave Club Ltd, it was set up in 1926 by a group of City of London brokers, initially to provide activities for boys and young men in the community.
By 1936, it had moved into its current home at 287 Goldhawk Road, with a big events hall and gym. Today, it's for girls and boys who enjoy the after-school gatherings, evening youth clubs, school holiday activities and outings, often led by club manager Nick Sazeides. The club is financially supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Now award-winning photojournalist Cinzia D'Ambrosi has been recruited to co-ordinate an oral history project to mark next year's landmark anniversary, with a launch event planned for 12 March.
"It's a great opportunity to mark the beginning of a year-long celebration, culminating in the centenary event itself in June 2026," she explained.
Memorabilia
The idea is to collect Sulgrave Youth Club memorabilia together, building on personal stories and recollections of the early years and using archive images which reflect the club's work with young people.
"It's also a symbolic moment to mark a renewal of the commitment of the club to provide a creative, ambitious and inspiring space in which youth have found solace, nourishment, learning and improved outcomes for their lives," she said.
So, please dig through old attic boxes, check photo albums and flick back in diaries and notebooks to see if you have anything to contribute to a celebration exhibition, and to help establish a permanent archive for future generations.
"We'd love to hear the stories of former members of the Sulgrave," added Cinzia. Many ex-members of the club have gone on to run local businesses, so if you have memories or memorabilia, please email: centenary@thesulgraveclub.org.uk
What's on offer
The Sulgrave club, one of many local community groups financially supported by H&F, runs a term-time junior youth club on Fridays from 4-6pm, aimed at school Years 3 to 6.
Then there's an intermediate youth club for Years 6 to 8, from 6.30-8.30pm on Fridays, and a senior youth club on Thursdays and Saturdays, 6.30-9pm, for Years 7 to 13.
More than 800 young people attend activities from gym sessions to healthy cookery classes as well as training in everything from relationships to body image and drug awareness.
The club also runs accredited courses in fields such as first aid and food hygiene.
