The Borehamwood Times has launched an appeal to raise £4,000 to open the town's first ever inclusive youth club for children aged seven to 12.

If all goes to plan, Funky Friendz will open in September when the schools go back, and will be held at Aberford Hall, in Brook Road, every Friday night.

But to break even during the first year, the mothers behind the campaign need to raise at least £4,000 – and we have pledged to help them meet that goal.

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Borehamwood Times:

The money is needed to pay for Ofsted registration, CRB checks, insurance costs, staff training and hall hire for the next year.

Grandmother Kelly Kent, of Broughinge Road, Borehamwood, took to Facebook to rant after a man was stabbed in the stomach in Baldock Way, Borehamwood last month.

Her post was seen by Michelle Jonas, of Aberford Road, and despite having never met, the pair decided to club together to give children a place to go – and Funky Friendz was born.

Ms Kent said: “I was fed up about hearing that children and young adults were getting into trouble by hanging around on the streets and I wanted to do something.

“I looked over at my granddaughter and thought, right now she should be coming home in her best dress with stories about what a great night she had.

“Nowadays, all that’s there for children is school and after school clubs. They’ve got things like Brownies and football clubs but they don’t cater for everyone.

“It’s grown so quickly in less than a month. It’s about getting families and children involved and giving them something to be excited about beyond hanging around in a park.”

They hope to hold free activities during the half term period, such as camping, which would be free to avoid excluding children who come from disadvantaged families.

Ms Kent added: “It’s about breaking even and giving the children a good time – not about money.”

Ms Jonas, whose children are seven and 11-years-old, will be the chairman of the club.

She said: “There’s nothing for young children but there’s tonnes for older children. You hear of kids hanging around in the park and even if they aren’t causing any trouble they can be intimidating.

“Plus, we want them to be safe and we don’t want them to get sucked ionto a life of anti-social behaviour. This will give them something to look forward to.

“We want our children to be safe – we don’t want them to get sucked into a life of anti-social behaviour.”

“It gives them a safe place to go and can lead them to better ways.”

They also hope to combat unemployment with the club by giving parents and teenagers the chance to start a training programme when it is up and running.

It will cost £2 per week for each child to attend the club, and the mothers hope the heavily subsided rates will mean nobody is left out.

Georgina Whorlow, 30, whose children are Matthew, two and Calen, four months, said: “When they get older I worry there’ll be nowhere for them to go.

“When I grew up in Borehamwood there was so much for us to do, but now there’s nothing.”

Gracie-Jane, nine and her brother, Bobby, seven, said: "We're really excited and think it's going to be so fun to go to the club every Friday and play with our friends. It's boring sitting around at home."

Last week, they held a fundraising disco to spread the word which raised £500 - but some of that money will go towards paying for the hall.

To donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/funkyfriendz.