How ‘Portaclubs’ helped keep teenagers off the streets of Bramley

It was a novel way devised by locals to help keep teenagers off the streets of Bramley in tyhe 1980s... “portaclubs.”

Residents launched a scheme to set up eight “Portakabin”-type clubs, complete with coffee bar and lounge on major housing estates acround the west Leeds suburb.

Called the Ad Hoc Youth Group, the residents approached the St Catherine’s Mill centre - where unemployed volunteers undertake a variety of projects - in June 1984 to get the plan off the ground.

Volunteer workers Paul Waterhouse, left, and Martin Buckle in the 'portaclub' at St Catherine's Mill on Broad Lane in June 1984. | YPN

placeholder image — Volunteer workers Paul Waterhouse, left, and Martin Buckle in the 'portaclub' at St Catherine's Mill on Broad Lane in June 1984. | YPN

Projects officer at St Catherine’s, Nadine Siddall, said the first cabin was due to be ready in a fortnight mon Fairfield Hill.

“The second should be on site in October. After that the other six should be completed every other month,” she said.

The volunteers at St Catherine’s build the shell and equip it with seating, coffee bar, electricity and other mod cons.

“There are no proper youth clubs for the teenagers to go on the estates,” she explained. “These cabins will act as a staging post, or drop-in centre.”

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They were due to be manned by volunteer residents and were due to be open seven days a week, from 4pm until 7pm mainly for under-13s and from 7.30pm to 10pm for over 13s.

“The big headache will be the running costs,” she admitted.

She said she had applied to Leeds City Council for grant aid and to a number of trusts. “We are hoping for donations.”