| Biography | There were fewer than 20 Young Men and Boys Clubs in London in the late 1860s, but by the late 1800s this had increased to more than 350. A Westminster churchman launched an impassioned appeal at this point for more men and women to get involved in the youth movement, pointing out that great efforts were being made to assist poor children and poor adults but those in between were being overlooked. Many year passed before the State did intervene, despite the so called boy problem being widely recognised on both sides of the Atlantic, but in the meantime individuals and institutions alike endeavoured to transform gang culture into organised clubs.
The Federation of London Working Boys' Clubs was founded in 1887 by a number of boys' clubs, to provide an organisation which could formulate a unified policy and philosophy and provide backup services for the Boys' Clubs movement. Many of the clubs involved had been started by universities, public schools and public-spirited individuals to help underprivileged and exploited boys in London, particularly the East End. The clubs provided recreational activities and also acted as education and welfare institutions: the clubs were often the only recourse boys had to medical attention, clothing and food.
The federation was renamed in the early 20th century as the London Federation of Boys' Clubs, and changed its name again in 1994/1995 to the London Federation of Clubs for Young People, to reflect the changing social situation and the increasing inclusion of girls.
The federation maintains close links with other, similar charitable bodies, most notably the National Association of Boys' Clubs. Its patron is the Duke of Edinburgh, who has retained close links with the federation for more than 50 years.
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