Nature and Purpose
The West End House Boys and Girls Club (The Club) has offered a comprehensive after-school and summer program for youth age 7-18 for 100 years. Our mission is to inspire and enable youth from all backgrounds to realize their full potential as prod uctive, responsible, and caring citizens. The purpose of the Club is to promote the social, educational, health, leadership and character development of boys and girls during critical periods of their growth. We provide a safe place to learn, ongoing r elationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and opportunity.
The recently renovated facility includes a gymnasium, Olympic size swimming pool, education center for youth as well as teens, technology room, teen center, professional grade dance studio, fine arts studio that encompasses pottery and film labs, a six s tation climbing wall and a full kitchen and dining room. Through collaboration with the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Club serves snacks and dinner everyday as well as nutrition classes. Staff offers programs in education, technology, the arts, leaders hip development, community service, health, fitness, and athletics to 1200 young people each year. Membership fees are only $15.00 per year (not including summer), and not child is ever turned away!
Tasks
PULSE volunteers will spend their time at the Club within two facets; first being assigned to a specific program and second serving as an informal mentor to a small group of members (two to three members). The first semester will be spent developi ng relationships with members and working closely with a staff member getting connected to a program. Some programs may include but are not limited too; Girls/Boys Group, Reading Club, Teen Education, Keystone (teen leadership group), and Music Lessons. Most programs meet weekly for an hour and consist of discussions, games, and hand-on activities. Second semester will be spent helping to improve relationships with mentor groups and contributing to the curriculum development of the program they have been assigned.
PULSE volunteers spend their scheduled hours in their programs, helping to plan activities with staff and hanging out with their mentor group. The time spent with the mentor group will consist of helping with homework, playing ping pong, creating art, or shooting hoops. We have specific needs for volunteers that are willing to step out of the comfort zone and try new things. In all cases, PULSE students will be asked to participate in as many activities as they can, to learn about the members and the community within the Club and to assist us with providing services and activities that enhance and promote youth development.
Time Requirements
PULSE students will be asked to provide a minimum of eight hours per week between 1:30 and 8:00 pm, with a schedule designed to maximize the contact with the assigned child and family and still conducive to the PULSE student's academic schedule.
Supervision
The PULSE students will have access to program directors, based upon the specific core area that they are assigned to. In addition, we will host bi-weekly group meetings to discuss the placement, the process and any issues that arise. At all time s PULSE students will have and be encouraged to utilize access to the Club administrative leaders for supervision or informational purposes.
Supervisor
Jenny Nute, Program Director
Address
105 Allston Street
Allston, MA 02134
617-787-4044 ex. 24
Council Member
Peter Land
