Youth Café Rocks

In some places, young people say they have nothing to do… but that’s not the case in Tavistock.

In an unobtrusive portacabin tucked away down Pixon Lane, the Youth Café is a hive of activity. All week, groups of young people from a range of backgrounds come to learn new things, receive support or help, or simply to get together in a warm, safe environment to make new friends.

"We’re very much young people-led," says Vicki Lloyd, who runs the facility. "I don’t know how many volunteers we’ve got now but they’re all young people −lots of 18- and 19-year-olds."

The café’s board consists of people working in different areas and with a variety of groups. On Monday evenings, for example, Tavistock Youth Café Plus meets – a group for young people with special needs, and their parents.

"On Tuesdays it’s hired out to Link tutors, who work with young people that aren’t in education, so although they’re not in school anymore, they’re still getting tutoring.

"Women-Only Wednesdays, a girls’ group, is from 3.15 til 5.30 on a Wednesday. They’ve nearly competed a babysitting course so they’ll have accreditation for that. They also have make-up parties, and we recently took them to the ballet.

"After that on a Wednesday we have a bit of a chill-out session for seniors, the users who’ve been here for about five years. Lots of them have grown up with the Youth Café and many of them have turned into volunteers here."

Equipment and facilities available for use include a pool table, a widescreen plasma TV, a PS2 with Guitar Hero and, of course, food and drink. There are even musical instruments and PA equipment. In the summer there is a full programme of trips and outdoor activities.

"On a Thursday we have the Quids In Music Project,which starts at 6 and finishes at 8.30. That’s young people teaching other young people to play instruments. We’ve got two drum kits here and countless guitars. They pay a pound and that goes back into their project so that when they need more amps and leads they’ve got the money for it."

On Fridays the Young Parents’ Group meets in the café, and there is also a Survival Session, which is "young people learning some navigation skills, doing some first aid, cooking outside, moorland walking − that kind of stuff. Again, that’s 11 to 19s. Later on a Friday, 6.30 to 9, we have an open, generic session. It gets really busy. We do all sorts of things – making tee-shirts, painting mugs, they go on the games consoles, we have a film night.

"Anyone can come. They just turn up and if they like it, they register themselves so we’ve got their details and parental consent for activities, and that’s it."

To find out more, contact Vicki on (01822) 612851 between 12 and 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays. Or email office@tavistockyouthcafe.co.uk.