The Samuel Montagu Youth Centre (formerly the Samuel Montagu Boys Club) was established by trust deed in 1963.
The original benefactors (who wished to remain anonymous) had been partners in the City of London banking business known as Samuel Montagu & Co., founded in 1853 by Mr. Samuel Montagu, who later took into partnership a Mr. Franklin.
The benefactors donated the playing field used by the Centre and the playing field now leased by the Centre to Old Shootershillians Rugby Club. They also gave sufficient funds to finance the building of the Centre’s premises.
No expense was spared on the building. The Centre has a snooker room with three full size tables, a fully equipped boxing gym and separate changing rooms for males and females. The gym was built so that it could also be used as a theatre. At the push of a button, a hydraulic lift raised a section of the floor at one end of the gym to provide a stage (unfortunately this facility no longer works).
Mr. Sydney Franklin opened the Centre in 1965. The Centre was run successfully as an all boys’ Club until three years ago but now offers facilities as a mixed Centre four nights per week and is widely used by members at weekends for sporting activities. In addition to the Youth Centre the Boxing Club operates three evenings a week with members competing regularly as well as Boxing Shows throughout the year. The Football section train during the week and compete at weekends during the Football Season.
The trust fund, which at present is the Centre’s main financial resource, is run by the Trustee’s Committee, which oversees all financial dealings at the Centre. The trustees are intending to seek a new trustee from the Franklin family to succeed Mr. Joseph Franklin who died in 2000.
The voluntary management committee oversees the day-to-day running of the Centre. Both Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Federation of London Youth Centres give additional support and advice.
The Centre, which is well used by a membership of 500 each year, has a voluntary workforce of over 30 adults who are supported by a small team of paid workers, has been hugely successful in attracting money for project work (including holiday programmes on offer to young people at little or no cost). The Royal Borough of Greenwich support the centre with an annual grant which helps towards the cost of two Youth Club sessions but as you can imagine it costs considerably more money to keep both the building and playing fields in good order.
The Centre’s recent revenue streams have fallen below the level needed to sustain the Centre, so the Trustees and the Management Committee are currently working very hard to ensure the Centre’s future for the benefit of the local community.