A HOLME VALLEY youth project has thrown open its doors to adults who want to train to be youth workers.
As it moves into its second decade, Holmfirth’s Cafe 100 is still going strong.
The Towngate cafe, which celebrated its tenth birthday last May, provides activities for dozens of young people in the Holme Valley.
The project, which is run by volunteers and youth workers, was launched to combat anti-social behaviour at hotspots such as Cliff recreation ground, Sands recreation ground and Scholes.
It runs an internet cafe at its premises next to Holmfirth Parish Church and has been operating an outreach scheme to offer safety and welfare advice to young people.
Cafe 100 members also work in the community and are planning to link with the Lions Club and scouts and guides to do a river clean up early next year.
With dozens of youngsters still using the services on a weekly basis, Cafe 100 bosses have put out an appeal for more adult volunteers.
Neil Murten, who has been involved with the project since its inception, said some volunteers would be able to get training or qualifications out of the deal.
He said: “Over the years we’ve relied on adult volunteers to team up with youth workers.
“We’ve partnered with Huddersfield University as they’ve got the biggest intake of students doing youth and community work and we’ve offered placements for young people.
“We appreciate we’re competing with a lot of other projects but there must be people who are interested in working with young people and perhaps go on to do a qualification?
“We’ve now got a free six week community and youth work course in conjunction with Kirklees Young People’s Service.
“They can train and get a basic certificate in youth work.”
Mr Murten said any adults with IT or catering skills would also be welcome to work with the youngsters on the various themed projects they did.
And the former youth worker, now project manager for the group, said he thought the cafe had done a great deal for the area.
He said: “I get a bit annoyed when we get all the negative things about young people.
“We don’t celebrate all the positive things.
“In Holmfirth, like anywhere else, we have issues and problems.
“We’ve got a lot of adults complaining but they’re not prepared to stand up and do something about it.
“We haven’t got all the answers at Cafe 100 but we’re trying to do make a difference.”
Anyone who would like to help out Cafe 100 can find contact details on its website.
Volunteers do not need to commit to long term work and can give as little as a couple of hours a week.
Cafe 100 aims to open on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons during the school year but is only open on Saturdays at the moment.
More details: www.cafe100.co.uk
