Week of community centres and youth centres

The week highlights the importance and value of this platform for children and young people.

Youth Club and Youth Centre Week is celebrated from 17th to 23rd October. The week aims to highlight the importance and value of this platform for children and young people, with an encouragement for as many people as possible (parents, guardians, siblings, friends and other family members) to find out about the activities of the centres in their local area. The work of youth clubs and youth centres is, by its nature, preventative, and the staff have placed great emphasis on creating a unique culture and environment with the children and young people.

The role of youth centres

The role of youth centres is to offer children and young people aged 10-16 an after-school activity programme that has preventative, educational and developmental value, and is tailored to their age and maturity. It is important to provide a facility for leisure activities and socialising with peers in a safe environment. The emphasis is on engaging children and young people in active participation and involvement in the activities. The work of the youth club is varied, and the programme is developed with the young people. They also organise larger events such as the Primary School Festival, a singing competition, Hafnarfjarðarstíll, and the quiz 'Veistu svarið', to name but a few. They also take part in larger national events such as the Samfés Song Contest, Samfestin and Rímnaflæði. The staff of the youth clubs try to encourage children and young people to follow their strengths, as there is a greater chance of an individual flourishing when they find a suitable hobby. One of the things youth clubs take great pride in is the participation of young people, and they are kept at the forefront of decision-making as much as possible and encouraged to participate democratically.

All about the youth centres in Hafnarfjörður

Youth centres in all neighbourhoods, serving all primary schools.

Youth clubs are run in all neighbourhoods, in connection with all nine of the council's primary schools. The Dalurinn youth centre at Engidalsskóli is the newest addition, serving children in the middle school years. The leisure clubs Kletturinn and Vinaskjól, located at Húsið, Suðurgata 14, offer a wide range of leisure activities for children and young people with disabilities. Hafnarfjörður also has two youth centres. On the one hand, there is Hamarinn on Suðurgata, with activities for 16- to 25-year-olds, and on the other, Músík og mótor in Dalshraun, with activities for 13- to 25-year-olds.

The latest addition in Hafnarfjörður is HHH – Queer Meet-ups of Hafnarfjörður.

The Hafnarfjörður Queer Meetup started last February and has been held at Vitanum Lækjarskóli. The meet-up is intended for young people aged 13-16 who identify as queer, are questioning their identity, interested in queer issues, or would like to come to a youth club where all children and young people are welcome, with or without any particular label. The idea for the meet-ups in Hafnarfjörður was sparked by a flood of enquiries from interested young people, parents and guardians. Currently, the meet-ups are held fortnightly on Thursday evenings. A meet-up for middle school children is also about to start.

A space for chat and socialising in a safe and welcoming environment.

The model for the implementation in Hafnarfjörður is the Queer Youth Centre in Reykjavík, where meet-ups and group activities have exceeded expectations. Around 11% of those who have attended the activities at the Reykjavík youth centre come from Hafnarfjörður, and this group can now attend queer social events in their own hometown. For some time, Queer Evenings have been offered every other Tuesday at the youth centre Hamrinn, aimed at 16-25-year-olds. In addition, the Hafnarfjörður Library has hosted Queer Evenings aimed at a wider age range.  At the queer meet-ups, young people get the opportunity to meet others in similar situations in a safe and welcoming environment. The activities are largely based on peer education and on creating a space for young people where they feel safe and have the freedom to simply be teenagers.

Hamarinn and Músik og mótor run social activities for older young people.

When young people in Hafnarfjörður reach secondary school age, they get the opportunity to attend The Youth Centre The Hammer which is located at 14 Suðurgata and is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every weekday. There, young people in Hafnarfjörður have a safe space where they run projects and a programme in consultation with the staff. In Hamran, there are facilities for learning, having fun, playing pool or getting advice from Bergið Headspace and Samtökin 78. Organised activities include role-playing games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and more. There are also facilities for meetings, group projects and studying. During the day, a teacher is on site in Hamrinn who can help with homework (not Danish or German). You can find The Hammer on Facebook and Instagram to follow their work and everything they have to offer.

A space for art creation and repairs

Music and motor is a youth centre located in the old liquorice factory at Dalshrauni 10. Rooms are available for use for all sorts of artistic pursuits, such as for bands to rehearse, artists to create, or anything that requires space. There is a recording studio, and Biggi is happy to welcome any young people who want to record their music. He handles recording, sound engineering and post-production. Músík og mótor also has a large garage where you can find tools and equipment to take apart motorbikes, cars and, in fact, anything, and put them back together again. Músík og mótor is open every weekday from 3 pm to 10 pm. Músík og mótor is also on Facebook and Instagram.

All about the youth centres in Hafnarfjörður

Participation in organised leisure activities is an important preventative measure.

It has been shown that participation in organised sports and leisure activities is very important for the future of children and young people; it has been considered one of the protective factors in their lives. Young people who take part in organised activities are less likely than other children to use alcohol, tobacco and drugs. It does not matter whether it is sports, dance, music, scouting or youth club activities. Young people who take part in organised activities are more likely to do better at school, feel better, have a more positive body image and greater self-esteem.

Find out about the work of the youth centres.

Hafnarfjörður encourages parents and carers to familiarise themselves with the work of the youth centres and to encourage children and young people to use the service, and at the same time thanks the staff, children and young people for their contribution to shaping a social life and environment characterised by a unique atmosphere, enthusiasm, ambition and, above all, joy!