Salvation Youth Cafe to open
06 April, 2009
The Salvation Army project will be held at their Albert Avenue base and the café will be officially opened during a special celebration on Saturday, April 11 between 11.30am – 2pm.
It will be attended by Major Jonathan Roberts, the leader of The Salvation Army in the East Midlands with musical performances from the Stapleford church’s talented youth from 11am.
Generosity of local people
Thanks to the generosity of local people, close to £50,000 has been pumped into the initiative, which will provide a state-of-the-art facility with a non-alcoholic bar, computer suite, gaming and a congenial relaxation area – all for Stapleford’s under served youth.
Major Richard Crowe, leader of Stapleford Salvation Army church, said: “We are really grateful to the people of Stapleford for donating so many items to our charity shop and for purchasing items to allow us to raise the money.
“The shop was opened just over three years ago and we are thrilled that it has raised so much, particularly in these tough economic times.”
Idea
The origins of the café date back to early 2005, when a group from Stapleford’s leading churches met to consider how they could best serve the local community, having prayed successfully for the closure of a sex shop on Derby Road.
The idea was put forward to open a charity shop in place of the sex shop in order to fund a youth café.
When the building between the new shop and the church hall became vacant, it was chosen as the perfect spot for the café.
From the outset, the project has been flooded with goodwill gestures: with professional tradesmen completing building work without charge plus locals who have routinely popped by the charity to make donations, even if they haven’t bought anything.
More
Hilary Rowe, the shop co-ordinator and long-serving member of Stapleford Salvation Army church, said: “It feels so good to see this project grow from an idea to the point of near completion.
“The community is really behind the shop, whether they are from The Salvation Army, another church or none at all. I am sure they will feel the same way about the café too, which will be a safe, secure place for all young people to be.”
Past Broxtowe Mayor, Councillor Brian Wombwell, is one of the project’s earliest supporters and helped The Salvation Army secure £2,000 from the Broxtowe Action Fund, £1,000 from Nottingham County Council and another £500 from Stapleford Town Council.
Wonderful
Cllr Wombwell, who now represents Stapleford North, added: “Stapleford is classed as a deprived area with many problems associated with anti-social behaviour, part of the reason being that many youngsters do not have much to do or anywhere to go.
“It is wonderful to know that The Salvation Army have developed such an exciting and innovative idea. I am proud to be involved and thrilled about the support the café is getting and I am sure that it will capture the imagination of Stapleford’s young people.“
This civic support has been followed by assistance from the corporate sector. Denby, the Ripley-based pottery manufacturer, donated close to £1,000 worth of quality crockery, fulfilling the café’s quota.
Support
Denby’s Managing Director Garry Biggs, said: “We at Denby really value the work that The Salvation Army is doing in Stapleford.
“We are only too glad to support in this way. The Salvation Army is an organisation that we have long supported, not only in Stapleford but across the country. We look forward to the opening of the café and wish them every success.”
By News Correspondent.
