THE team at Refresh Café has been out in the community talking about the work done for the town and its young people recently.

The not-for-profit project launched in the basement of New Life Church in 2011. The idea of the project is to provide a venue for community outreach programmes and also offer volunteering and training opportunities for young people in Okehampton while serving quality refreshments and building relationships with people in the community. One of its main focuses is youth work, running youth clubs for youngsters of all ages and they also have connections to other groups including the town’s Walk and Talk Group.

The project recently held an outreach event in the town centre to promote Refresh. The café is run by twelve volunteers from various backgrounds and two paid members of staff including manager Melissa Mahabir-Waters who has been a part of Refresh for four years since leaving Plymouth University.

She said: ‘By Supporting Refresh you support youth and children’s work in a big way as we are self funded and hold the largest youth and children’s club in Okehampton.

‘StreetLevel is a vibrant youth club which runs every Friday night during term time from 7pm for ages eleven to 18. Supergang Kids Club runs every Wednesday night during term time from 6pm to 7.30pm and has an average of 50 children coming every week. During Supergang we provide the parents and family with free teas and coffee so as to give them some respite whilst the children have fun upstairs.

‘We are continuously brainstorming for new outreach events and have recently done a retro video games night and town outreach for the food and folk festival where we served cakes and ice cream, did free face painting and handed out helium balloons to children.

‘Running Refresh will not be possible without our great team of staff and volunteers who are always ready to serve you with a smile.’

To find out more call into New Life Church during opening hours.