November 2006
Celebrations for 10th Anniversary On Thursday 26th October, 2006, the project celebrated a milestone by reaching its 10th anniversary. The event was marked with an evening of celebrations including an event held to recognise past and present volunteers and staff, funders and young people. This was followed by a Tay FM disco hosted by 'Karen B' which was attended by a large number of young people who all enjoyed themselves.
Young people join in the celebrations by cutting the cake. Everywhere, it seems, there are concerns about young people – hanging about street corners, anti-social behaviour, alcohol, drugs, vandalism. At the same time young people complain “We’re bored – there’s nothing to do”. Similar concerns had been expressed at the Crime Prevention Panel meetings on ‘Alcohol and Drugs’ and ‘Youth Crime’ in 1993 and 1996. Each meeting resulted in positive action being taken. First, the highly successful Oasis and then the C.A.F.E. Project were founded, each designed principally to cater for young people. They have each shown what a local community can do to sort out its own problems. 10 years ago the C.A.F.E. Project opened its doors to young people. It has remained open for over 2,250 nights since then providing a safe haven for young people 6 nights a week. As one 14 year old girl memorably put it: “If it weren’t for the C.A.F.E. we’d be out on the streets getting involved in things we don’t want to get involved in”. A 13 year old boy put it another way: “If you drink or do drugs, you don’t get into the C.A.F.E. to enjoy yourselves”. Yet another boy said: “We treat the C.A.F.E. just as if it’s our own home”.
Over the last 10 years it has grown out of all recognition. At the start it was very much simply a drop-in centre – a safe place to ‘chill out’ and play games in the evenings. It remains so but has developed to include holiday and after-school clubs, birthday parties, indoor and outdoor activities, outings chosen by the young people and international exchanges. Inside, there’s plenty to do for both boys and girls – pool, billiards, table tennis, air hockey, cooking, baking, make-up, hairstyling, manicures, art, dance, music, quiz nights, keep-fit, kick-boxing, discos, band nights, board games, dvd games, playstations and broadband internet café. In addition, the C.A.F.E. is a base for several community groups including for several years now the Lochlands Adult Resource Centre, the Old Time Dancers and the Prince’s Trust. Out of doors, there’s fishing during the summer holidays – and Street Games throughout the year. 5 nights a week and also in the afternoons during the holidays we take our mobile, enclosed pitches – the first in the UK – around housing estates within Arbroath, other Angus burghs and remote rural areas. It’s not just about football, basketball or other games. It’s also about the young people helping to set up the pitches and organise events. Most importantly, perhaps, it’s about encouraging them to ‘play fair’. ‘Fair Play Rules’ are agreed by them at the start – such as no violence, no bad language, you have to agree penalties (there’s nae ref!) – and at the end they decide who gets an extra point for sticking to the rules they’ve agreed. The young people say it works. “It’s good how boys and girls can play together” and “It keeps you out of trouble” being typical comments. And the police say it works, too, with complaints about young people’s behaviour well down. So successful has this project been that we are helping to spread it all round Scotland and, through the Damilola Taylor Foundation, across London for good measure!
C.A.F.E. Project Chairman, Sheriff Norrie Stein (right) is joined by Provost Bill Middleton and Director Paul Hardie addressing the guests. The C.A.F.E.’s approach is simple. Young people (like everyone else) prefer to do things they enjoy and have fun. Our task is simply to help them do so. All this has been possible through the hard work and dedication over the last 10 years of scores of remarkable volunteers, young and old and from all walks of life, and our small, committed staff. It’s really encouraging that we are seeing our own young people progress to volunteer and help out in their turn. We all look forward to the next 10 years and to helping even more young people develop interests, make friendships and grow up safely. We thank all who have supported us financially over the years – Angus Council, Tayside Police, Safe Angus For Everyone, Presentation Products and so many others. If you want to help by volunteering or in any other way call us on 875200.
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Community Alcohol Free Environment Brothock Bridge Tel: 01241 875200 E-mail: info@cafeproject.org.uk |
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