West Haddon Parish Council Youth Cafe

West Haddon Youth Café aims to provide a safe, welcoming, and free space for young people aged 10–15 to relax, connect, and grow friendships. At our café the Council staff organise and manage a variety of inclusive activities at times where young people have the choice to participate or not but by giving them the freedom they can make choices for themselves. Some of the activities are informative at heart although not overtly so. The Youth Café is a relatively new venture but from Acorns grow Oaks and we envision a vibrant rural hub where every young person feels valued, supported, and inspired. Our youth club café will be known for its warmth, inclusivity, and opportunities for fun and freedom. In time we hope to grow the youth services in West Haddon and encourage, through the development of the pavilion, the return of other ventures with whom we will work closely.

The Youth Café was created after West Haddon Parish Council explored ways to offer local young people a safe and welcoming space, and in 2024, the Council decided to trial running the club itself, and it has been a success. The café is staffed by dedicated Parish Council employees who are DBS-checked and trained in first aid and safeguarding. While it is run as a café rather than a formal youth club, young people are welcome to come and go as they please due to the open and safe location on the playing fields, or can participate in organised activities.Attendance is free, and there's a subsidised tuck shop where young people can spend their pocket money on something they particularly enjoy!All children attending the Youth Cafe must have parental consent to attend. At the beginning of September, we issue consent forms, medical declaration forms, and other necessary documentation for completion. It is essential that these are filled out and returned promptly to ensure your child can attend. For safety reasons, all attendees are required to sign in on arrival and sign out when leaving. If a child fails to sign out, we will attempt to contact parents or guardians using the provided emergency contact numbers. If we receive no response and are unable to account for the child, we may contact the relevant agencies to ensure their safety. Please be aware that while many young people choose to stay within the Pavilion during Youth Cafe hours, some do leave to play on the adjacent playing fields. These outdoor areas are not directly supervised by Youth Cafe staff. If you have concerns about this, we strongly encourage you to speak with your child and stress the importance of remaining within the Pavilion area for their safety.Getting to and from the club is the responsibility of parents and guardians. If your child is being collected, please ensure they are picked up promptly at the end of the session. The Youth Club runs from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and this coming year we will be extending the age range from Year 5 to Year 9 pupils, apologies to younger siblings, some of whom are desperate to attend, but your time will come.