Cafe Blog: Spring 2010

Sometimes the most amazing things happen when you take a leap of faith!

Christine: Director

Starting from a simple concern as a mother and grandmother that today's popular culture doesn’t produce the necessary heroes or heroines to inspire our young people to aspire to greater things for themselves, and with an energy to "make something happen" I’ve found many other people felt the same and have been overwhelmed at the brilliant response from both individuals and organisations who want to help make a difference.

The local domestic violence unit (SNAP) have been massively helpful, opening doors for me in my role as project leader for their Break the Cycle action research project – working with 6 groups of young people across Huntingdon to understand the effects on young people of the violence they experience through street gangs, bullying, violence in the home and even in their music and entertainment. It taught us so much, particularly that there is a great need for community drop-ins to give a safe place for time-out for personal guidance, nourishment of the soul, friendship and laughter. For more information go to www.snapdomesticviolenceunit.org.uk

The Mayor, Cllr Gordon Thorpe's, invitation to attend his new community coffee mornings was the perfect opportunity to share our thoughts about creating a new community based mentoring service for young people, and also adults of all ages, who’d value a friendly ear to listen non-judgementally to their concerns, give impartial advice and signpost them to useful services. So many people came forward we now have a new social enterprise set up to run training for volunteering, coaching and mentoring and some much-needed funding from the Barley Mow pub, some free meeting places, 20 volunteers being trained to become Listeners and Mentors and others who will run workshops and classes – and a brand new website c/o local town councillor Julia Hayward – www.communitycoachingcafe.org.uk (which you are reading now!)

Now ready to go, we are launching ourselves as The Community Cafe Listeners on Saturday, June 12th from 8.30 – 1pm at the St Neots farmers’ market. You can’t fail to see us! Look out for the bright orange banner and t-shirts and the pavement café….