A NEW youth club offering teenagers a space to relax and feel able to express themselves is taking place at the Old Schools in Hatherleigh every Thursday.

The Hatherleigh Youth Cafe has so far been going for four weeks. It is being run by Hatherleigh Churches.

Parish priest the Rev Leigh Winsbury and his wife Lynn are among the volunteers.

They were joined at Old Schools last Thursday evening by Patrick Kimber from the Community Church and youth worker Kyra Morley, a congregation member at the parish church of St John the Baptist.

Kyra is currently doing a placement working at Okehampton College three days a week.

She said this made her even more aware of the need for young people to have their own space in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘There is a fallout [from the pandemic] at Okehampton College,’ she said. ‘The teachers are trying their absolute hardest to support the students where they can but there is just an overwhelming need that cannot always be met.

‘What we wanted to offer here is somewhere the children can feel comfortable and part of the group and extend them a little love.

‘They feel safe and they feel supported here and we can give them time. The power of talking is amazing and I think undervalued at times.’

‘This is our fourth week. For the minute we are just relaxing into it, seeing what happens. I wasn’t expecting anyone to turn up at first but I think we are doing very well.

Last Thursday’s session was the best so far, with 12 people coming along.

‘Up until now the most we have had is eight along to a session, so not a huge amount, but it allows us to give them each a bit more time.’

Patrick and Leigh are the only male volunteer leaders, so one of them is at every session. All the volunteers come from Hatherleigh’s churches, mainly from St John’s but also from the methodist and community churches in town.

Tables are laid out with checked tablecloths and there are fairylights on the walls.

There’s a pool table and table football and games are on the tables for everyone to take part in. In the centre kitchen the volunteers also serve up food — chicken and chips and burgers and pizza.

‘Snacky things,’ said Lynn. ‘We are trying to aim for the older teenagers because there is already something for the younger ones.’

Kyra said that already the teenagers were beginning to relax and chat to each other.

‘There has definitely been a mingling,’ she said.

‘I was taken aback by that but it just happened, and quicker than we thought it would. They have been playing games together and they are turning out to be a really lovely group of children.’

The club is open to anyone in Okehampton, Hatherleigh and surrounding villages. It takes place on Thursday evenings between 7-9pm.

Find out more from the Rev Leigh on 01837 810680 or email [email protected]