Corner Café was started in May 2024 as a safe and fun place for young people to meet and relax together. Year 11 students were asked for their input as to what they thought the café should be called, the vibe and menu. Not pizza and chips as thought, but iced coffee and muffins!
The main clientele of the café were year 6s who had recently turned 11, were excited to go up to the High School in Debenham and felt very grown up to be able to come to the café. A few games and wifi were available at the café, with music playing in the background. The upstairs room at Dove Cottage was outfitted with soft chairs and carpet and a snug, which has been popular from the start.
The menu has developed further with sweets, crisps, donuts, sausage rolls, fizzy drinks, bubble tea as well as iced coffee and muffins. The menu is altered slightly each week to keep things fresh and appealing. During the better weather the churchyard has also been used for energetic games.
The first term there were between 9 and 15 young people in attendance. The smaller numbers meant that the group was able to bond and become more familiar with the café and the others, meaning connections were better established.
The Growing in God Fund grant money was used to help decorate Dove Cottage with fairy lights and ornamental flowers, as well as acquiring more games and an air hockey table.
From the start of the autumn term, the café had a surge in popularity and saw 25-35 young people regularly coming to the café. The numbers engaging with the Café is a success, with parents commenting and thanking the café for running Corner Café as a place for young people to meet. A number of the original group were children who came from challenging backgrounds – and the café has provided a safe space enabling them to socialise with peers out of school.
The building of relationships is the greatest success of Corner Café, between the young people and my husband and me as representatives of the church and examples of Christian people in a non-church, non-school context.
Archie said, “The café has a good area to play manhunt, plenty to do and the food is cheap. Everybody likes to come and there are lots of people to chat to.”
Esme said, “It has a very good selection of food and drinks and lots of friends come. You can play air hockey with friends. If I didn’t come here I would just be at home on my own.”
Lillian said, “I like this place ‘cos it’s chilled out. It’s a nice place to come to relax.”
The project is still in the early stages alongside the building of relationships still being in the early stages for many. But it has set up a strong foundation for the young people of the community and continues to be a valuable resource for the local children.
