Twerton's Youth Cafe Is Dynamic, Fun and Buzzing...Luke Brightwell Tells Us Why
Just what do you do when you are a teenager, a bit bored and really want to see your friends?
Luke Brightwell of Bath YFC and St Michael's Church in Twerton have the answer with a recently established Youth Cafe. Bedecked with 'X Box', holding weekly themed events including 'dub step art', giving opportunity to play footballand even giving local youngsters the opportunity to compete in Twerton's Got Talent!
Luke tells us why its the place to be....
(PICTURES: LUKE BRIGHTWELL, )
Describe the Youth Cafe?
The youth cafe in Twerton is a safe place for young people to be able to meet up with their friends. There is a range of things to do such as playing on the X box or playing football. Each week there is a different theme ranging from dub step art week to cooking and from bouncy castle to Twerton’s got talent. People are welcome to come and go as they please and join in with as many or as few activities as they want to. We give out toast and hot drinks and is free for anyone to come along to.
How and when did it start?
It started in October 2011. Bath YFC are running a range of youth cafes all over Bath (Google bath Youth Cafe for a list and map) and Twerton was a place we were really keen to start one up. It runs every Tuesday during term time from 5 to 6.30pm for school years seven to nine and from 7 to 9pm for school years 10 to 13.
Who is behind the cafe?
The youth cafe in Twerton is a partnership between Bath YFC and St Michael’s All Angels Church. There is also a fantastic group of volunteers who give up their time to make it work who all live in and around Twerton.
What are your hopes for it?
Our hope is that it will be a place where young people can feel safe to be themselves and grow in confidence. We hope that young people will get to know the people who run it and notice something different about them and start to ask questions. We want it to be a place where young people can realise their potential and discover God and ultimately become disciples.
What do you hope young people will get from it?
An acceptance and a chance to relax and be themselves. We hope they will be able to enjoy being young people away from the pressures of school. We hope they will always feel welcome and know that even if they misbehave they will be forgiven and given a fresh start each week.
Do you need funding, volunteers.. etc?
The young people would love some more equipment so any donations would be gladly welcomed! They are currently planning to prepare, cook and serve up a great meal to a room full of people to try and raise money for a pool table – so we need people who would like lovely night out being served by young people.
Volunteers wise it would be great to have a few more people to help with the young group from 4.30-6.45 (this includes time to set up and pray). This would enable us to talk more with the young people and really grow the relationships being built.
Prayer – it can be a long and tough night. We would love prayer for patience, love and forgiveness as well as wisdom to know how to deal with all the different situations that arise during an evening. So prayer for the people running it and for the young people coming along.
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March 2012