• Drop-in sessions every Thursday 3:30-6pm from 3 September

Following a successful pilot earlier this year and a series of well-attended weekly sessions, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is bringing the Youth Cafe back to Smokey Joe’s in Cheltenham town centre from Thursday 3 September. The sessions will be supported by youth work providers Springbank Community Group CiC and The Rock Cheltenham.

The Youth Cafe provides a welcoming space where young people can spend time with friends, try new activities and access support in an informal environment. Weekly sessions will run every Thursday from 3:30pm to 6pm, including throughout the October half term.

Young people can drop in and out throughout the sessions, make use of Smokey Joe’s vintage arcade video games at no cost and take part in activities delivered by local organisations. Each young person will also receive a free food and drink voucher on entry. Some sessions will include activities from providers such as The Music Works and Escape Rooms Cheltenham.

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from Cheltenham Borough Council plus additional funding recently secured from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Gloucestershire. The OPCC funding will support a second daytime youth cafe session, creating valuable space for partner agencies to engage and support the young people they work with.

Councillor Jamie Jamieson, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “The response to the Youth Cafe pilot showed just how important it is to have a safe, welcoming space for young people in the town centre.

“It gives them a space where they can just relax, spend time with friends, enjoy activities and get some support if and when they need it. We and our partners, local organisations and the OPCC recognise how valuable and scarce a resource that is, and we’re very thankful to be able to continue making the Youth Cafe available to Cheltenham’s young people.”

Nick Evans, deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “I’m really pleased that we’re able to continue funding Cheltenham’s Youth Cafe as part of our work to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Helping to get this cafe up and running as a welcoming place while sustainable funding is sought fills the gap after so many safe places for young people have been lost over the years.”

If your organisation is interested in supporting or getting involved with the Youth Cafe, please contact the No Child Left Behind team at nochildleftbehind@cheltenham.gov.uk.