The dream of having a youth café in Wokingham will come true this coming Saturday (November 14) as the new facility based at Wokingham Youth Centre on Reading Road is officially opened at a special ceremony.
Last year, local young people formed a committee to set up and run a youth café in Wokingham. And their hard work paid off when on Friday October 30, the doors to the youth café opened for the very first time. The night was extremely successful and food was served accompanied by live music from local bands. The opening of the youth café was publicised by the young people in local schools and through various youth centres in the borough.
For sometime, young Wokingham people have felt it was essential there was a youth café in Wokingham as there wasn’t an appropriate place for them to gather and socialise as many places do not welcome large groups of young people. The youth café is open to anyone aged between 13 and 19 and it’s a great place to go and hang out with friends.
There are currently 14 members on the Wokingham committee and, as a group, they have taken part in various training sessions including food hygiene, customer service and safety in the kitchen. The committee is organised like a company and has young people in charge of services including human resources, public relations and design. By leading on these services, it provides committee members with valuable experience for later life. All young people are being supported by the borough council’s youth service.
The Wokingham youth café group received a grant of £3,055 from the Youth Opportunities Fund which has allowed them to offer a variety of services above and beyond being able to buy a simple cup of tea such as an opportunity to volunteer at the café.
Part of Wokingham Youth Centre, just outside of the town centre, the café provides a comfortable environment for young people to socialise and enjoy food and beverages including Paninis, toasties, chocolate snacks and hot drinks.
Seventeen-year-old Jamie Henderson said: “It’s great that all of us can work together in Wokingham for a good cause and finally we have a place to go and meet up without others thinking we’re causing trouble.”
Adam Wingrove (17) added: “We are really looking forward to the official opening of the youth café, so then we can all gain skills and new experiences. It would be great if we had a good turn out.”
Chelsea Crosson-Smith (17) said: “I am looking forward to seeing the youth café working to its full potential and finally seeing all of our hard work paying off.”
Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “The committee members should be extremely proud of their achievements as their dream of opening a youth café is now a reality. The youth café has been set up as there was demand by young people for such a facility in Wokingham – they wanted somewhere to go where they could meet up with their friends and simply hang out. Feedback received since the opening night has been very positive and I hope the youth café will continue to be very popular. I wish the committee every success for the future.
“Everyone has worked so hard to get the youth café off the ground. It is a key priority for us to provide young people with positive activities, good facilities and a safe environment to spend time in. The committee is looking for more volunteers, so if you think you have got what it takes, please get in touch with the HR department by emailing: vol-hrdept@wokinghamyouthcafe.org”
The café is open every Friday between 3pm and 6pm and Saturdays between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
