New coffee shop supports young people
A COFFEE shop staffed by young people who have been affected by domestic abuse has opened in North Camp.
The Clear Stone Trust, which provides a specialist support service for young victims, opened Gray’s Coffee shop, in Lynchford Road,
The trust was set up in 2011 as a result of national cuts to services for young people and, as a small notfor-profit organisation, with only three part time staff, demand for the services soon grew with many referrals being received each week.
In delivering its specialist support, staff work closely with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Hampshire County Council’s children’s services, Hampshire Constabulary and the North East Hampshire Domestic Violence forum.
The coffee shop is managed by a team of volunteers, half of whom are young trustees, and on Monday Simon Hayes, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, officially opened the shop.
Jan Sheehan, from the Clear Stone Trust, said: “So far the coffee shop has doubled our ability to provide support and we can regularly support in the region of 60 young people each week.
“We offer group work and one-to-one crisis support and now we have a training coffee shop too. This has allowed us to offer a seamless range of supportive projects, taking a young person from crisis support right through to preparing for employment. We have nationally accredited programmes, giving young people a portfolio of qualifications to take to future employers.”
The Clear Stone Trust has received grant funding from Rushmoor Borough Council and the Crime Commissioner’s Office, and all profits will be put back into the trust so they can run more independently and not rely on funding.
Councillor Sue Carter, cabinet member for leisure and youth at the council, said: “It’s great that the council has been able to support this new venture, which provides invaluable support to local young people who have been affected by domestic abuse - helping them with their personal development and training so that they can get their lives back on track.”
The coffee shop is open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and sells sandwiches, cakes, small gifts, greetings cards and second hand books.