A youth group helps foster a healthy, constructive atmosphere for young people who are 10 to 18 years of age. Youth groups are usually in impoverished areas and inner cities where the need is more acute. Youth groups provide counseling services and constructive activities. Here is how you can start a youth group in your neighborhood.
Instructions
1. Find somewhere to hold your youth meetings. If you can't afford to rent a building, try going to local churches with basements. Churches often loan out space for youth-related community projects, and some will even offer financial or other type of aid for your program.
2. Outline a set of goals and draft a mission statement for your organization that you will be able to use as you approach vendors and others for donated time and money to help fund your organization. The mission statement should be about a page in length and summarize the purpose of establishing a safe environment for youth to gather, learn and have fun.
3. Establish your youth group as a not-for-profit organization. This will give you tax breaks and allow you to write tax deduction receipts to anyone who donates money or items to your youth group. You can do this by applying with for a business license and tax ID number in your state (see resources).
4. Contact a youth counselor or your state's mental health department. They can provide a list of potential funding to help establish your youth group. Include a good balance of counseling and constructive activities for any troubled youth in your group. The mental health department can also direct you to local agencies where you may find volunteer counselors for your organization.
5. Look for donations at churches, fire and police departments, and for people in the community willing to help your youth organization. Involve the youth in your group in holding craft fairs, barbecues, and car washes to help raise donations.
6. Establish relationships with local pizza parlors, museums, and other entertainment spots. You can often get discounts on products and services for your group's activities.
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