News / Stokes Croft
Plans to transform defunct Stokes Croft cafe
A not-for-profit wants to transform a defunct café into a community hub for kids with mental health and emotional issues – while also turning the coffee machines back on.
Youngsters struggling with normal school life because of bullying or family problems would be able to learn in a stress-free environment at the site in Stokes Croft.
Leading Lights wants to create a “multi-functional education and wellbeing hub” at the now-closed café on the corner of City Road, where they would also host group therapy sessions, drop-in sessions for parents and cooking, arts, creative writing and other community workshops.
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The social enterprise wants the hub to offer “a range of educational and therapeutic activities that provide support for those with SEMH (social emotional and mental health difficulties) and a bustling community cafe”, according to a planning application submitted to Bristol City Council.
“The clientele will generally be those who are experiencing difficulties in the traditional school environment,” the report adds.
“Frequently these relate to bullying or family issues which make it difficult for children to work normally at school. In such situations Leading Lights can provide support, both to continue the child’s education, and to address those specific issues preventing them from managing normally at school.”
The plans would see the cafe put back into use for the wider community
Generally Leading Lights will look to help kids outside school hours but will also support those who cannot go to school because of bullying or anxiety issues.
The report continues: “In addition the focus on wellbeing will be promoted through community activities such as workshops, mindfulness, reading groups and the like.”
The café will provide a “non-threatening environment” while making extra cash for Leading Lights. In the early mornings and at weekends it will function as a normal cafe, serving hot drinks and sandwiches, before the space is given over to workshops and help for youngsters.
Leading Lights wants to use one of the windows on City Road as a service hatch so they can continue serving customers while workshops are going on inside.
The site, next to Stokes Croft Pharmacy, was used as a café for around 15 years but has now been empty for some time.
Plans were submitted to the council at the end of March. A decision on whether to agree a change of use from a café to a café with community and education uses will be made in the coming months.
If agreed, the café will be allowed to stay open from 7.30am to 10pm seven days a week.
Leading Lights was set-up in 2014 by a group of tutors, teachers and counsellors to help struggling youngsters reach their potential.
A spokesperson said: “The emphasis is on a holistic and thoughtful case managed approach that remains consistent across projects and programmes, to address specific requirements for their children, families, and young people referred by each organisation.”
Jack Pitts is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
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