The vision was for a late night youth café open on Friday and Saturday nights in the basement of John Bunyan Church in central Kingston.   YMCA London South West (then called Kingston & Wimbledon YMCA) together with Oxygen came together to establish a place in central Kingston where young people can meet and be with others, and through the creating and entertaining of the arts learn and discover different skills and opinions.

Youth Workers would be on hand to listen, support and guide young people. They would take part in activities throughout the week including space to practice live music and perform on café nights.  It would be a safe place free from alcohol and illegal substances and a place where parents and carers would be assured that their young people will be safeguarded by reliable, trained youth workers who took seriously the protection and wellbeing of all those attending.

Kaleidoscope Drug & Alcohol Service had been using the church's basement for a good number of years but with a change in direction for Kaleidoscope the church basement had become vacant.

Back in July 2008, Oxygen, the YMCA and the church therefore decided to think through just what the need was within Kingston and how best to use the space for young people. 

Consultations with different groups then took place with questionnaires on the streets on the 'Young Livin' website and with community groups that included the council, the Police, and local MPs.

Interestingly before plans were drawn up the Kingston Youth School Council's Conference, in March 2008, called for an alternative presence in the centre of Kingston stating there was a need for a youth café not a youth centre.

The café opened for an initial period from January 2009 before revamping it internally. The Youth Opportunity Fund of Kingston's Youth Service agreed a grant that enabled the renovation works to go ahead and with support from church groups and businesses the café was opened officially on 15th October 2009 with local people and young people attending.

just the beginning.

Having just started with an after school café on Tuesdays and Thursday and live performances on Fridays, we hope to hold dance and cooking projects on Mondays and Thursday.
 
We need continued support so if you think you can help by volunteering or sponsoring a youth worker to do the work please do not hesitate to contact Andrew Bates or stay in touch by using the form on 'Contact Us'.

For any further information please email Jonathan Melville Thomas at YMCA London South West or telephone: 020 8339 7339 (direct line)