The Cyber Cafe

Patron: The Lady Apsley

The Cyber Cafe nestles at the rear of the old Memorial Hospital with its entrance onto the Sheep Street car park.It is just opposite the air raid shelter and attracts young people from our community. The Cyber Cafe is a registered charity and managed by Churches Together in Cirencester.

The Cafe offers a chance to use computers, go on-line, do homework, meet friends, chill out, chat and have a cup of whatever soft drink/coffee/tea suits you at that moment. The group started quietly in October 2005 and has been going ever since. With a slight drop during the middle of the year, numbers have now risen and it is the coolest place to be seen. Thanks to a real effort being made to contact young people at our secondary schools, the Cafe looks set to go from strength to strength.

The Cyber Café is now well into its third year, and is slowly getting better known in its tucked away site behind the Old Memorial Hospital. Its aim remains that of attracting 12-18’s, especially from our poorer areas, off the streets into a warm, safe and Christian environment. What is particularly interesting is that at least four of the original members are still going there.

  Although the after-school openings still only attract 8-10 at a time, the actual turnover in a session is into the twenties. What has increased dramatically is the number in the Friday evening meetings, which has grown to 50-60. So much so that it had to be broken down into two sessions, with the younger ones coming for the earlier part of the evening. This has increased the pressure on the noble team of volunteer helpers, and more are needed as there is a strict rule of at least two volunteers plus a leader to be present at all times.

  Two big surprises happened during the year! The first was that our Youth Leader Jenny Baines got married – to one of our volunteers, Phil. The second was that soon after this, Jenny resigned for personal reasons, and we thank her for all that she contributed in this time. We were most fortunate that two volunteers, Jacquie and Charlie have agreed to carry on running the Cyber Café until we can find a replacement Youth Leader.

  Another big step forward is that Cirencester Cyber Café is now a registered Charity, which greatly strengthens our status when trying to raise funds. Some organisations will not even consider making grants to non-charities. The annual running costs are in the £16,000-£20,000 bracket and as this is the only outreach work for teens in the town that our three Anglican churches are making, we encourage you to use the tax efficient Gift Aid where possible when you are contributing.
                                                                                               

David Williams