State-of-the-art multimedia youth café opens in city centre

Released: Friday February 12, 2010

A £450,000 state-of-the-art multimedia youth café in Wolverhampton city centre has opened its doors.

The EPIC Youth Café has been created from three derelict buildings in Lichfield Street, thanks to money from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Youth Capital Fund Plus.

Through Youth Capital Fund Plus, local authorities are putting in place new or refurbished youth facilities in areas where they are most needed.

Involving young people aged 13 to 19 and the wider community in the decision-making process and design, EPIC will provide a safe and stimulating environment for young people in Wolverhampton at the times they say activities are needed – particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

The massive refurbishment project started after local traders had voiced their concerns over large groups of young people gathering around the statue of Prince Albert in Queen Square.

The young people themselves had also asked for a safe place of their own in the city centre that they could use in the evenings and at weekends.

EPIC has a café area with internet access and a venue with the latest hi-tech public address system for young people to stage events in the basement.

The site will also be the new home of Wolverhampton’s Youth Bank, which is run by the young people with the support of the city youth service. They decide the projects to be supported through DCSF funding at regular Dragon’s Den style pitches. In the past four years, the Youth Bank has approved more than 700 applications for funding.

Robin Morris, youth service manager at Wolverhampton Youth Service, said: “Often young people simply want to go somewhere where they can relax and meet their friends in a safe environment without having to hang around on street corners.

“EPIC offers much more than this. It’s an exciting venue which has been planned by, and for, young people to create a multimedia environment and entertainment space.

“They have taken ownership of the project at every stage, helping to decide everything from the colour of the walls to the facilities that EPIC should contain.

“We’re delighted that it will be open for half-term and we look forward to continuing to work with the young people to make it a special place for them.”

Over half term, activities taking place at EPIC will include workshops on healthy eating, arts and crafts, circus skills, and music and media.

Councillor Christine Mills, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are delighted that this fantastic youth café is set to open during the half-term break.

“This is something that young people in Wolverhampton wanted and we are delighted to deliver it for them. EPIC Youth Café will give youngsters somewhere safe to go and allow them to take advantage of wonderful opportunities and facilities.”

The Youth Capital Fund Plus is part of the Government’s £679m investment to ensure there are safe places to go and interesting things to do, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when young people and communities say activities are most wanted and needed. More than £4million of this money has been made available to young people in Wolverhampton.

Other Government-funded activities being organised by Wolverhampton Youth Service over half-term include trips to the Snowdome in Tamworth and evening sessions at youth centres including Bilston, Eastfield, Ettingshall, Lunt and Rocket Pool.

Ian Brady, Head of the Youth Taskforce at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said:

“The Youth Capital Fund Plus is an example of the huge investment the Government is making in the lives of young people and their communities, helping to prevent problems such as anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking and low level crime by offering young people safe places to go and interesting things to do.

“I would really encourage the young people in Wolverhampton to go along to the EPIC Youth Centre and find out what’s on offer.”

Additional information

Experience shows that young people are more likely to get involved in positive activities when they have a say in what is available, and that taking part helps them to learn new skills, as well as divert them from behaviour that might be considered by the wider community as anti-social.

In July 2007 the Government announced a £679 million investment supplemented by £160 million from the Children's Plan to ensure places to go and things to do for young people aged 13-19 as part of the Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities.

DCSF are supporting through the Youth Capital Fund Plus (YCF+) 50 local authorities to put in place new or refurbished youth facilities in areas where they are needed most.

While some authorities have used the funding to build or refurbish a single facility, many have invested in two or three facilities and in some cases, have also invested in mobile units. More than 100 facilities are expected to open across the 50 areas by the end of the year, and each one will offer activities on Friday and Saturday nights.

Issued by the press office.