BOSSES at Bolton Lads and Girls club are scrapping annual membership fees – so more youngsters can get involved.

The club, which operates activities from across four sites in Bolton for more than 4,000 members, is getting rid of the £3 annual fee for everyone aged from eight to 24. Members will continue to be charged 50p per session

BLGC boss Karen Edwards said: “Every young person should feel like they have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to, and by scrapping the annual membership fee, we want to let young people know that our door will always be open for anyone that needs us.

“Enriching young lives is the central tenet to our mission as an organisation and one which is lived out day to day by the BLGC family offering the best facilities and activities for our young people.”

BLGC is a charity, which caters for nine out of ten children living in the five most deprived wards of the borough.

The junior club is open to all youngsters aged 8 to12 and offers comprehensive and nurturing in the form of sports, sensory play, performing arts and music, teambuilding and personal development.

The Senior Club has unlimited access to a variety of activities, which include dance, drama and live music performance, enhance employability skills, writing a better CV, interview and telephone skills.

Any youngster wanting to stay fit and healthy can attend fully equipped fitness gym and classes. While those wanting to take on other activities have access to the climbing wall, boxing ring, trampoline, indoor bowling, darts and pool.

The club opens every day of the week and offers a wide variety of inclusive recreational, sporting, arts-based and targeted programmes at Spa Road, Hacken Lane, Westhoughton, and Barlow Park Youth Centre.

All members get the opportunity to enrol in schemes like the National Citizen Service, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, or one of the Young Leaders and Sports Leaders programmes

Ms Edwards added: “Removing the annual fee will be a loss in income of approximately £12,000 a year but it means there is no longer a barrier for young people to access the opportunities and support we provide for the town. We hope to recoup that lost income through our fundraising plans.”