Downside Fisher Youth Club
Downside Fisher Youth Club has been supporting socially excluded children and young people from Bermondsey and its neighbouring areas, since 1908.
The charity helps them to fulfil their potential through a structured programme of sport, educational, artistic and recreational activities.
Key Beliefs:
- Young people are competent and resourceful.
- Young people have a right to an opinion.
- Young people have the right to be heard.
- Young people have a valid role in society and positive contributions to make.
We’ve had a long association – as you might guess from the name – with the DFYC. In 1912, Fr Stephen Rawlinson, a Downside monk and chaplain to the Fisher Catholic Club, persuaded the Abbot and Community at Downside School to take over responsibility for the Club.
The under-18 Club members moved to premises in Bevington Street (half a mile east of the present premises) and renamed the Downside Club. The combined Clubs became the Downside Settlement, supported by subscriptions from Old Gregorians (OGs: ex-Downside pupils). Numbers grew rapidly and the Downside Club moved to Marine Street nearby. The main activities were football and boxing.
The club has a history of exceptional Boxing success. In 1913, member Sid Smith becomes world flyweight champion, by 1960 three members were competing in the Rome Olympics.