01 Jun 2016
St Andrew’s Club turns 150 this year, marking a lesser-known milestone in the history of London. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded St Andrew’s a grant of over £74,000 to explore the history and impact of what has always been recognised as the oldest youth club in the world. This initiative, which is also looking at St Andrew's in the wider context of other early youth clubs in London, is being led by Andreas Persson who is working in the Club this year.
An important part of the 150th year celebrations will be an exhibition timed to coincide with St Andrew's Day in November. This aims to shine a light on the Club’s relatively unknown history. The project will also deliver a short film, eBook, educational materials, talks by historians, and a new St. Andrew’s virtual space. A number of community events such as film screenings and digital archive training sessions are also planned.
Reflecting the project’s collaboration with Westminster City Council and the charity London Youth, the exhibition will move to the Westminster Archive centre in 2017, after which members of London’s other historic youth organisations will also be afforded access to mobile elements.
Andreas does not expect to find any surviving members from 1866! But he would love to hear from you if you are interested in being involved, or have particular memories that will help reveal the great century-and-a-half-old legacy of the Club, and celebrate its contribution to our local community. He can be reached at the Club or by emailing him at info@standrewsclub.com
June 2016