Celebrating One Year of the YMCA Youth Café

June marks a significant milestone for YMCA Black Country Group as we celebrate the first anniversary of the YMCA Youth Café at YMCA Coffee at the Clock in West Bromwich. Since opening its doors in 2025, the Youth Café has become a vital community space for young people, offering a safe and welcoming environment where they can relax, socialise and feel supported after school. In just twelve months, the café has recorded over 2,200 attendances, with around 160 young people regularly taking part each week, demonstrating both the demand for and value of this kind of provision locally.

At its heart, the Youth Café is much more than a place to grab a drink or meet friends. It combines informal social time with structured activities, giving young people opportunities to take part in sports, games, arts and crafts, gaming and anime sessions, as well as informal learning. For many, it is a place where they feel they truly belong.

The café also plays a key role during a particularly vulnerable time of day. After school hours can often present challenges for young people, especially for those without safe spaces to go. The Youth Café provides structure without pressure, offering a positive alternative that helps build confidence, friendships and healthy routines.

A dedicated youth worker is central to the café’s success, offering a trusted adult presence and supporting young people through informal mentoring, conversation and guidance. This consistent support enables early intervention and helps young people access wider opportunities when needed. Some have even gained valuable work experience within the café itself, building skills for the future. Shantania, one of the Youth Workers leading the session, said: “Working at the Youth Café is incredibly rewarding as it provides more than just a space. It fosters a supportive and inclusive community where young people feel safe, valued and encouraged to grow. Seeing their confidence and skills develop is a privilege.”

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the West Bromwich Building Society Foundation, whose commitment to supporting local communities has helped turn the vision into reality. As one of the Foundation’s first funded initiatives, the Youth Café reflects a shared belief in investing in preventative support and creating positive opportunities for young people. Partnership working has also been key, with organisations such as Powered By CAN contributing additional activities and sessions, helping to create a vibrant and engaging programme that continues to evolve.

Looking ahead, YMCA Black Country Group remains committed to growing and developing the Youth Café, ensuring it continues to provide a safe, inclusive space that supports young people to belong, contribute and thrive.

One year on, the café stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities come together. Creating not just a service, but a space where young people can feel seen, supported and inspired for the future.