Kilmarnock Churches Youth Project
(the project) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, company no C352474 and charity no SC040501.
The Project was founded as a charity in 2009 after local research was undertaken in Kilmarnock's four Secondary Schools. The results of questionnaires
showed that Young People were desperate for a facility that could come to and offered a safe, drug and alcohol free environment. In 2011 a part time Youth Worker was employed and in 2014 the position was made full time. The Project is currently managed by four trustees and daily running is managed by a full time youth worker.
The Trustees sought funding from local churches and subsequently from other grant funding agencies to finance its operating costs of £30,000 per year. This includes finance for Youth Worker wages, Cafe equipment maintenance/replacement (pool table, Xbox and games, Internet access, Computers, IPads and the venue ongoing costs), external trips such as ten pin bowling, cycling, Go Karting, Trampolining and other outdoor activities.
The project operates under the name Basement Youth Cafe (the cafe) and is open every Friday night and Saturday afternoon, except Christmas and New Year.
The cafe provides a relaxed drugs and alcohol free environment where young people can come to and meet their friends, enjoy free access to WI Fi, Xbox games, a chill area, board games, drawing
facilities and the opportunity to chat with the Youth Worker and Volunteers for support on the various life issues they are experiencing. We have worked with Young People with issues such as
self harm, low self esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts, lack of confidence and additional support needs.
One way of trying to help the Young People is by giving them ownership of the cafe. In order that we meet their needs and not ours. This is facilitated by a Youth Committee who meet with the
Youth Worker and liaise with their peers on ideas to take the cafe forward.
The Youth Worker works along side a group of 10 volunteers and provides strategic direction in providing social and emotional support to young people, ensuring consistency and enabling appropriate signposting of young people to external agencies where appropriate. The project works with a range of young people from ages of 11-18. The project is a drop in facility and anyone
in the age range is welcome. The youth worker partners with other local Youth Workers in an effort to reach as many young people as possible and also goes out to local schools and Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock Campus to support the Students.
"Our aim is to build the next generation of young people by releasing their true potential."
Kilmarnock Churches Youth Project | Registered in Scotland | Charity No SC040501 | Limited Company SC352474