Traditionally science clubs have been seen as a lunchtime or after-school activity, run by volunteer teachers giving up their spare time. Increasingly, however, they are being used creatively as a way of delivering important curriculum enhancement activities or even as a vehicle for the science part of whole-school priorities such as working with gifted and talented pupils. The role of these enrichment activities in enthusing pupils about science has long been understood, and awards schemes have proved particularly motivating at primary level. The British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) has a long tradition of providing materials for science clubs and working with young people, dating back to the early sixties when the British Association Youth Section (BAYS) was set up. Since then, a number of projects for both primary and secondary schools have been established by the BA, including First Investigators and Young Investigators for primary schools. The author suggests how science club activities can smooth the transition to secondary school as well as helping to deliver and enrich the curriculum.