New Youth Cafe For Barnstaple Teens

Eighty-nine signatures were collected on a

proposal for a new youth café in Barnstaple town. Students who took part in the

National Citizen Service, over the summer found that Barnstaple lacks safe

places for teens to socialise in.

   Existing Barnstaple

Youth House, was established to hopefully achieve this but because it is only

open a few times a week and focuses on providing an area for other community

groups to meet and operate, limited numbers of teens actually know of the place

and attend.

   The proposal

was to have a new youth café, like existing ones in Braunton and Ilfracombe,

where teens can get together, take part in activities or games, have snacks and

chat with friends. The café would be government funded and would require few

staff. Members of the group thought it would be good for a new setting for

teens and young adults to socialise that would be available in the evenings and

on Saturdays. Not only will it give young people a place to go especially in

the winter, but also offers a place for people to make new friends. Having a

safe environment for young people to go to would hopefully reduce the amount of

youth crime that takes place around the town centre.

   Jasmine Moran,

one of the members who came up with the proposal, said "We think it'd be

great to have it in one of the empty shops in town to also help improve the

look of the town." A new youth café in the high street would be easy for

young people to get to as it is central to Barnstaple, allowing more people to

attend.

   Since the

proposal was put in place, North Devon District Council have considered the petition

and is to be further discussed with the Executive for further consideration.