Rich Cooper, director of The Source Café in High Street, Aldershot. The café needs to raise £20,000 by Christmas to stay open
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The Source youth cafe faces funding crisis
By Nicola HudsonOctober 20, 2009
A CAFE that provides support for disadvantaged young people is under threat of closure unless it can raise £20,000 by Christmas.
Christian organisation The Source runs the café in High Street, Aldershot, to give young people a safe drug and alcohol-free environment in which they can have fun, make friends and get advice and support.
Grants awarded to the project have now run out and, due to the recession, there has been a significant reduction in funding from grant-making trusts, as well as a drop in donations from the public.
To provide a range of services to more than 800 young people in Aldershot, supported by seven full time staff and 50 volunteers, costs more than £300,000 per year.
Just half that amount is funded. The expenses that are not met are the core costs, such as electricity bills, rent, insurance and café food.
"So needed"
Unless the charity can find money to cover those costs, it will have no choice but to close.
Natalie Cooper, who runs the café, said many of the young people have ideas about how to raise money and she will work with them to produce an action plan.
She said: "I’m very optimistic. I feel like this is such a good service for these young people and it’s so needed."
People aged 14 to 24 can use the café and its services, which help people struggling with problems including family issues, teenage pregnancy, addictions and homelessness.
To make a donation visit www.therealsource.co.uk.
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