'We will get through this': The Hunslet Club determined to stay strong for Leeds youngsters

The Hunslet Club's roots go back 1940 when local doctor John Wyllie recognised the need to keep boys off the streets and out of mischief during the blitz.

His efforts, along with the support from the local community, led to opening of a club which has thrived down the years.

Today it has 1,800 members providing 98 activities each week, from ballet to boxing, football, rugby league, cheerleading and youth clubs.

The club prides itself on supporting the most vulnerable in the community, offering vocational activities from its base on Hillidge Road.

An 'open gate' policy means it has long been buzzing with young people every day of the week.

But for the first time in eight decades, the club's leaders are devastated at having to tell their members to stay away during a national crisis of a very different kind.

Chief executive Dennis Robbins described how social distancing goes against the grain of everything The Hunslet Club stands for.

He said: "Yesterday, I saw two kids playing on one of our outside football courts and I had to tell them to go home.

"For the first time ever we are having to say no to young people. It's a tough thing to have to do. But we all have to keep safe.

"Usually we leave at least one of our courts open so that even on a weekend when we are not about, they can still go on and kick a ball about and play on it.

"But we have had to close the gates."

Dennis said the club remains open for vocational work but only to the most vulnerable youngsters.

The disruption has already led to disappointment for two girls who were due to represent the club in the national junior boxing finals in Liverpool

Dennis explained: "All boxing now has been suspended and I would imagine that will be the end of the season now.

"It's the first time ever in our existence when we have not been able to offer support except for a small group of vulnerable young people."

Dennis, a club member for over 40 years, urged members to continue to stay safe and follow the government advice to ensure the club gets back on its feet as soon as possible.

He said: "I would just say remain positive. Make sure you follow what the government are saying.

"If all of us do that, in a matter of weeks we will be back to normality.

"It's a matter of taking care and doing what we have been told to do.

"I think that it's a big change for everybody, but certainly for young people.

"Teenagers have usually got the freedom to roam and to do what they want to do,

"To all of a sudden be told that they can't do that and can't interact with their friends is very tough"

"But will get through this. We are going to come out of this and we will be fine.

"This is worrying for a lot of people. But we will get through it."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004.

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor