The Element Cafe
The Element Cafe is a targeted Youth Club designed to meet a variety of additional or special needs.
The club provides a safe space for young people who have additional needs or those who may be more vulnerable due to a variety of conditions.
With a higher adult to young person ration, the Element Cafe is able to offer a gateway to a variety of Positive Activities.
Positive Activities
We will provide positive activities such as Youth Camp, Circus Skills, Aerial Activities, Indoor Curling, Minecraft. We work with other providers such as District Sports, The Living Arts Company to provide a wide variety of activities.
Members also have access to day trips and cultural events. Our young people are involved in recycling projects, craft workshops, community circus activities and other community events.
In 2022 and 2023 members of the Element Cafe attended 7 residential activities including Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, Fairweather Camps and trips to Aberystwyth in Wales and Cornwall. There will be a similar programme in 2024 including a trip to the British Juggling and Circus Arts Convention in Blackpool.
The story so far
The Element Cafe is over 5 years old and has built a working relationship with several agencies such as Amesbury Town Council, Wiltshire Council, Abri Housing, Police, Social Care and Buzz Action Roadshow. We have built a caring core of volunteers, parents and participants and have linked to the mainstream Youth Club who welcome our membership to their meetings and events.
Our professional support from Buzz Action Foundation has access to a wide pool of volunteers and leaders. Even during the pandemic we were able to deliver a safe programme of activity and support to some of our most vulnerable young people.
Focus Areas
- Arts and Culture
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Neighbourhood
Expected Impact
Families and Siblings will feel safer knowing that their Young People are engaged in the community, both socially and also making a positive contribution to the local community.
The Local Community will also benefit from integrated and inclusive activities which incorporate other community groups and youth organisations.
Members of the Element Cafe also participate in the Buzz Action Roadshow helping to deliver activities such as Tumble Track, Aerial Arts, Disco to other youth organisations.
Many of our Young People are also taking both performing and non performing roles with Circus Wessex. Most of our members will be able to participate in mainstream activities with full confidence thanks to the bridge provided by The Element Cafe.
Other organisations recognise our role facilitating full inclusion and we thank them too.
Track Record
In the last year 12 young people managed to sleep outdoors for a whole night and a day of activity. While a further 9 attended a camp during the day returning home at night and coming back the following morning.
All 23 of our members took part in external activities. 2 of our young people have successfully achieved employments and roles which are a direct consequence of participation with Element Cafe.
During the pandemic we managed to reach out to all of our membership, including those who were shielding. We helped provide bespoke activities during lockdown and also provided street entertainment outside of houses so that they and their families could watch our team provide LED Circus Shows with Jonathan the Jester from behind their windows and on their doorsteps.
Our membership contributed to many community events over Christmas, Easter and during the Jubilee. This contribution provided activity which over 1,000 young people participated in directly.