AFTER a number of turbulent, pandemic-ridden years, the Bovey Tracey Youth Café is back in full swing. But with its services in demand more than ever before, it needs you to lend a hand.

The Youth Café was founded in 2002 after a group of like-minded individuals recognised that Bovey Tracey and the surrounding areas were lacking any real facilities for teenagers.

‘It all stemmed from the PPT Church,’ said John Midgley, one of the founders and now the Chair of Trustees. ‘One of the ladies there who had been running a nursery was aware of what was needed and asked if we could do anything.

‘So one or two of us got together, and with the benefit of some funding and the availability of this building, we found this wonderful spot. And it went on from there, with the help of many different people. We’ve had masses of people that have generously contributed their time and money.’

Since its founding, the Café has flourished. However, the nature of Bovey’s public transport system and the disappearance of village hall social centres have made the café an indispensable facility. Resultingly, like many rural towns, a tense relationship between residents and young people has slowly developed.

‘Bovey is isolated,’ explained Jez Butcher, who managed the café for much of the noughties and has recently taken the helm once again.

‘The buses are irregular to say the least, often non-existent. Sometimes, they just don’t turn up at all.

‘In terms of young people being in the town, there are some that don’t behave brilliantly, but the perception of a lot of people is that they all don’t behave well. They’re tarred with the same brush and they’re not really welcome anywhere.

‘That’s one part of our outreach work, is trying to get them to understand the impact of their behaviour on others and work better with the residents.’

Since the pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, the café has been increasingly under pressure.

Jez has increasingly found that the long periods of isolation during the lockdowns has impacted many youths’ social skills, while the squeeze on households and public services has eroded the resources needed to keep young people in activities and out of trouble. More volunteers and staff are critical.

Jez said: ‘Things were very difficult for kids, they missed out on a lot. They were hugely isolated for a long period, many missed key moments in their lives.

‘All of a sudden we shove them all back together, and then we wonder why they can’t function socially anymore. That’s definitely a contributor.’

Angie Blanche, who also works at the café, added: ‘Many didn’t cope that well, they lost all their social contact. Thank goodness for the internet because it gave them an outlet for interaction.

‘My son is in year nine now, he has hardly ever known secondary school as a social thing.’

Services offered at the café range from just being ‘somewhere to go’, with various activities, to being a centre of support, help and advice on a range of issues to empower young people to stay healthy and safe. This includes healthy eating, sexual health and drug/alcohol use.

‘The café’s all about inclusion, non-judgement and understanding,’ said Jez. ‘The world is not going to fit around these kids, but they can find their place in the world, and we help them to do that.

‘The fact is most kids are great, they just need people to invest in them, give them a voice, trust them.

‘We try to accommodate everyone. The reality is that lots of young people do have additional needs and that shouldn’t stop them from coming to the cafe. We do have to be realistic about what we can offer, but invariably we will try.’

‘We’re in a situation now, though, where we can make some really good plans, but it’ll take a little time. We’d like to get some more staff so we can open for more nights.’

Bovey Youth Café is currently looking for new volunteers and one new paid member of staff.

► If interested, contact Jez at 07966 462069 or at [email protected]