A growing church-led youth café in Ipswich is bringing children together for fun, games and delicious cheese toasties. The after-school youth café, at St Peter’s Stoke Church, started with just two members in September last year, but now sees more than 15 children attending each week.
Sue Bridges, Pioneer Children and Young People’s Worker, said: “We have children here aged nine to 12 from different schools, coming here from all over Ipswich.It started about a year ago and it has really grown since then. We have crafts and games, Lego and football – there’s so much for them to do. It’s a great chance for the children to make new friends and have fun.”
One highlight of the week are the popular cheese toasties, which are prepared by volunteers Jackie and Rose in the church’s kitchen. Towards the end of the session, the children gather for a quiet moment of reflection, for prayers and to learn about God.
Nine-year-old Cassius said: “I only joined last week and I love it. It’s very fun and I have learnt lots of new stuff.”
Mia added: “I really like it and think it’s really fun. You can do lots of fun things and the volunteers are all really kind.”
The church is a hive of activity at the moment, hosting two services every Sunday morning, a baby and toddler group on Tuesdays, a top-up shop on Wednesdays as well as a monthly messy church.
The Revd Emily Swinerd, said: “The after-school youth café has been a big success and is growing every month. We are planning on going on a trip, a youth weekend, in Bury St Edmunds in October and are currently doing some fundraising to pay for the trip. The children have been decorating pencil cases to sell, and this week are creating bracelets. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Archdeacon Sam, Archdeacon of Ipswich said: "Across Suffolk we want our churches to be places where children and young people know they are welcomed, encouraged and able to thrive. The youth café at St Peter's Stoke is a wonderful example of this vision in action. By providing friendship, activities, care and opportunities to explore faith, it is making a real difference in the lives of young people and helping to build a stronger community".
For more information on St Peter’s Stoke Church, see www.stpeterschurch.uk
For more information about Growing Younger, please visit here.