The Challenge
A
spate of problems involving young people in Cinderford led to
the funding of a youth worker to spend six months talking to local
youngsters to find a solution. Funding came from local town and
parish councils, Gloucestershire County Council's Youth and Community
Service and the then Rural Development Commission.
Developing
the idea
A
questionnaire asked young people what they wanted - an evening
drop-in café headed their 'wish list'. Youth worker Sue
Fellows brought together an initial working group of six young
people who met weekly to discuss the way forward.
 |
| The
Candi Youth Cafe in Cinderford |
A
run-down former sports shop in Market Street, Cinderford proved
the ideal premises - the enthusiasm and vision of the young people
overwhelmed initial adult reservations! Within a year, and with
a great deal of help and support from the local community, the
café was up and running.
Making
it happen
The
management dommittee of young people meet monthly and decide
how the café is run, within budgets. Initially, it opened
for four sessions a week with one full-time manager - who was
interviewed by the young people - and six volunteers from the
local church.
Additional
funding led to six sessions a week and an assistant manager
was employed. More space downstairs was opened with a pool table,
TV and 'chill out' room - local people were generous with donations
of fixtures, fittings and time.
Various
charitable trusts as well as the county, district, town and
parish councils all contributed relatively small amounts, but
substantial funding was needed.
Major
charities including Somerfield, Henry Smith, the Kensington
Estate and John Paul Getty were approached and the former Training
and Enterprise Council helped fund essential training for the
manager and assistant.
 |
| The
cafe provides a meeting place for young mums |
A
drop-in session is held weekly for young single mums aged 13
to 25 who had nowhere to go with their babies during the day.
They
meet and support each other over coffee and tea - they swap
clothes and toys and organise jumble sales, Christmas parties
and summer outings for the children.
With
funds from Comic Relief and the Government's Single Regeneration
Budget, the café now has an information shop, signposting
to advice and information on benefits, services, drug and alcohol
problems, housing and relationships, school, college and careers.
It
has also expanded upstairs with help from Community Service
Volunteers and Young Gloucestershire.
Keeping
it going
As
a result of its success, the café project is involved
in outreach work in outlying rural areas.
Funded
by Ruspidge, Soudley and Drybrook Parish Councils and the Worshipful
Weavers, two outreach workers were employed to organise weekly
youth clubs and bring youngsters into Cinderford to access the
support and services they need.
In
addition, a National Lottery bid proved successful and the Market
Street premises were bought outright and refurbishment is under
way.
The future will include bidding for a music project and a dance
project and setting up a cybercafé.
The
gardens are to be developed for use in the summer for barbecues
and as a play area for single mothers and their children.
The
café is used by about 200 young people a week, with about
50 inquiries a month at the Information Shop.
Top
tips
- Most important is that it is user-led with ownership by
young people
- Make
sure fundraising is ongoing (the Candi Project costs £86,000
a year to run)
-
Get skilled at writing good 'begging letters' and filling
in bid applications
- You
need 'start-up' cash and revenue, a highly committed project
leader and active supporters
- It's
essential to keep the support of local councils, the press
and the community
- A
management committee must have a wide range of skills represented
from local people - business, councillors, governors, police,
social services, church
- Contact
the Lions Club and local churches for volunteers
- Set
up as a charity, company limited by guarantee
- Personalities
of staff important regarding empathy with young people
Contact: Graham Spearman 01594 844563
Who
can help?
Key
organisations that could offer help and support in the development
of your ideas. Their details can be found in the Contacts
Directory. Further information on funding sources is
available from Gloucestershire County Council's Economic Development
Unit on 01452 425702.
Funding
sources
|
Other useful contacts
|
-
- Charitable
Trusts
- Children
in Need
- Comic
Relief
- District
councils
- Gloucestershire
County Council - Social Services - Youth and
Community
- Gloucestershire
Masonic Charitable Association
- Gloucestershire
Rural Community Council (Rural Initiative Fund)
- National
Lottery Funding Bodies - New Opportunities Fund
- Parish
councils
- Single
Regeneration Budget
|
- Age
Concern
- Business
in the Community
- Colleges
- Connexions
- Crossroads
- Diocese
of Gloucester
- Disability
Action Group
- District
councils
-
Environmental Health
-
Planning
- Fair
Shares
- Families
and Children's Information Service (FACS)
- Foyer
Federation
- GloFYSH
- Gloucestershire
Association for Mental Health
- Princes
Trust (Business)
|
-
Gloucestershire County Council
- Adult
Continuing Education & Training service
-
Early Years Development Childcare Partnership
- Gloucestershire
Drug and Alcohol Advice Service Gloucestershire
Media
- Gloucestershire
Neighbourhood Projects Network
- Gloucestershire
Rural Transport Partnership
- Health
and Safety Executive
- Parent
and Teacher Associations
- Police
- Neighbourhood
Inspectors
- Rural
Beat Officers
- Women's
Institute
- Young
Gloucestershire
|
