The Benefits of Youth Cafés

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According to The Prince’s Trust (2006), youth cafés are ‘safe, alcohol-free places where young people feel welcome, can meet friends, have fun and take part in a wide range of activities’. Youth café’s give young people a place they can hang out with their friends in an inclusive environment that is safe, relaxed and friendly. Youth cafés are open to both sexes from various social and cultural backgrounds. Drugs and alcohol would also be prohibited in the café. Involvement in the youth café would give the young people the chance to develop strong relationships with other young people attending the youth café and also the staff and volunteers involved. Recreational activities carried out give the young people the chance to relax and enjoy themselves while educational activities allow for the development of new skills and knowledge. The youth café is also a place where the young people can obtain information and get advice on issues they may be having in their lives; these issues may be related to ‘sexual or mental health issues, parenting skills, training and further education’ (Forkan et al, 2010).
The youth café will have a central location and be on a well-lit street in a safe area in close proximity to transport routes to ensure the safety of the young people who may need to travel to and from the youth café by bus. It will also be ensured that it is wheelchair accessible to guarantee there will be no exclusion of any young people. The youth café will involve the joint effort of staff, volunteers, local communities and young people. The opening hours of café will be Monday to Friday evenings and also Saturday afternoons (Forkan et al, 2010).
Regardless of whether a young person attends the youth café to meet with friends, relax, listen to music or to receive support and advice, their involvement in the youth café looks the same, as every young person’s reason for attending is private. Therefore, if a young person is receiving support from the youth café it will not be known to any other young people in the café or those not in attendance and thus will have no social cost to them that they may be apprehensive of and there will be no stigma attached to their attendance either. The youth cafes allow the young people to be self-sufficient; although they will be assisted by staff or volunteers they are given a high level of autonomy.

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