Youth café launched (From York Press)

Youth café launched at Bar Lane Studios

8:27am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Julie Hayes, Business editor

A PLACE for young people to hang out and get involved in creative activities has been launched at Bar Lane Studios in York.

The pop-up Inspire Youth Café will be based at the Micklegate gallery until October 5 and will provide a space for workshops or to have a coffee and a chat.

The café is the brainchild of York Youth Council, a group of 11 to 17-year-olds who represent the voice of young people in York.

The youth council had the idea five years ago and has been trying to raise funding and find the right venue.

Jade Aitken, of York Youth Council, said: “We’re just trying to get a feel for the place and see what the young people want.”

The cafe will be run by young volunteers and young people have been involved with the set up, from deciding the menu and pitching the pricing at what young people can afford, to the content of workshops, which include dance and arts workshops, music events, film making and creative writing, and promoting the venture to engage an audience.

The project, which has been funded by the York Young Peoples’ Trust, aims to provide a place for young people to go which is safe, off the streets and provides opportunities, said Jane.

The cafe is based in the main gallery from 3.30pm to 9pm and on a Saturday until 5pm.

It holds workshops in the basement and the print room.

If the café project is successful, Jade said she hoped the youth council would be able to keep the project going.