CLAPTON YOUTH CENTRE

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 LMA/4550
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: CLAPTON YOUTH CENTRE
Date(s)	: [1970]-2010
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 1.83 linear metres.
Name of creator(s)	: Clapton Youth Centre

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Established in 1978, Clapton Youth Centre was administered by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) and managed on a day-to-day basis by Jean Tate (Tutor Warden) with the support of Anslem Samuel (Tutor-in-Charge). With Black young people from the Hackney area comprising the majority of its membership, the Centre developed objectives that included the development of an anti-racist policy, involvement with community and political groups in relation to issues of concern to the Black community, and the encouragement of collective decision-making (members were encouraged to participate in meetings, training, and briefing sessions).

The majority of evening sessions consisted of a variety of activities and classes, including art, dance, photography, sport, sewing, and steelband, while Monday evenings were reserved for girls and women only. Occasional special events held by the Centre included Cultural Open Evenings and an exhibition of photographs taken by members of the Centre. A number of residential Centre Development weekends were held for both staff and members, with the aim of examining the philosophy and strategies of the Centre.

The Centre closed in November 1983 following a dispute between Jean Tate and Anslem Samuel and ILEA regarding the management of the Centre.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Clapton Youth Centre, including Senior Members Defence Committee and Committee for the Defence of Clapton Youth Centre minutes and papers; nightly report sheets; Jean Tate, Tutor Warden (later Head)'s correspondence files concerning policy, disciplinary hearings, papers concerning campaigns and events based at the Centre including Anselm Samuel, Tutor in Charge (later Outreach Worker); the death of Colin Roach in Stoke Newington and Colin Roach Family Support Committee (joint campaign with Hackney Black Peoples Association); New Cross Fire demonstrations; trip to Grenada during the Revolution in 1980; related leaflets, posters, photographs and audio cassette tapes.

The records demonstrate how the Centre was run, and how relations deteriorated between the Centre and its parent, the Inner London Education Authority. The papers of the campaigns which were run from the Centre are particularly valuable for research on local issues in Hackney, as well as wider activism in the Black community. The photographs, slides and negatives are also a strong element in the collection, documenting the Centre's activities and related campaigns such as Colin Roach demonstrations and support given to the Knight family.

Records containing personal information concerning Jean Tate and Anslem Samuel are available for general access as those individuals have requested this access rule during their lifetimes. Records containing personal information relating to staff are not available for general access and have been restricted for 84 years from the last date in each file. Records containing personal information relating to members (who were aged 12 years and above) are not available for general access and have been restricted for 88 years from the last date in each file.

Audio-visual material is available for access by appointment only.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

These records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4550/01: Jean Tate, Tutor Warden, later Head;
LMA/4550/02: Anslem Samuel, Tutor in Charge, later Outreach Worker;
LMA/4550/03: Activities;
LMA/4550/04: Committee for the Defence of Clapton Youth Centre;
LMA/4550/05: Other Campaigns.

Conditions governing access:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Gifted to the archive in June 2008 and September 2010.

Allied Materials

Related material:

See also records of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), particularly Post-Schools Department (ILEA/PS).

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
January to May 2011.