TAVISTOCK Youth Café will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in a brand new building filled with fantastic facilities.

In 2013 the future looked bleak for the youth club after it was left without a base following the demolition of its then dilapidated building.

But in less than two months, the youth café will open its doors for the first time in its brand new unit in Pixon Lane.

Vicki Lloyd, Tavistock Youth Café manager and West Devon youth worker, said: 'The support has been great and we are all looking forward to getting the doors open again and being able to provide some quality youth work for young people in Tavistock and the surrounding area.'

The youth café was originally opened in 2005 after a youth council was formed to provide youth provision in Tavistock — it had eight successful years until it lost the building in 2013. A year after the building was demolished Tavistock Youth Café (TYC) received the fantastic news that it was to move into a new unit on Pixon Lane.

The unit was empty and needed fixtures and fittings to make it suitable for a youth club, but thanks to community help and funding, the unit is now up and running.

With donations of a brand new fitted kitchen, a new digital kettle and toaster, a SmartTV, a pool table and plenty of furniture, the unit is now kitted out and looking vibrant, ready for its official opening day on May 1.

Young people between 11 to 19 in Tavistock will have a place that offers somewhere for them to relax, play pool, access free WiFi, meet with friends and eat food, as well as provide a safe environment to discuss issues with youth workers, get advice and guidance, find volunteer opportunities, music tuition and more.

The facility also boasts a purpose-built, soundproof music room and a classroom.

Vicki said: 'It's a better space than before with enough room to be a meeting place and band rehearsal space, as well as the inside being furnished as a purpose-built youth club.

'We have been helped and supported by businesses, organisations, councillors and volunteers, which has all gone a long way to getting us where we are now.

'The directors and members of the youth café are all very grateful for people's kind donations of time, money and equipment.'

A dedicated working party of Tavistock Lions painted the walls and woodwork.

Director of TYC and Lions member Alan Wroath said: 'I joined the youth café as a director shortly before the demolition of the old youth café building — a really low point for our community.

'It has been hard work for those involved, especially Vicki who has believed in the project throughout, but for all of us it has been great to be part of something that so many people believe to be vitally important to Tavistock.

'The goodwill, generosity and support we have received has been incredible — from individuals, town, borough and county councils, Claro, Howdens and other businesses and voluntary organisations.

'In particular the Lions Club has been fantastic — not only providing £2,500 at a crucial moment, but also giving up hours of time to paint and get the facility ready in double quick time.

'We are so proud that there is an opportunity for young people to have that warm, safe environment they need, together with all the activities associated with it, in a building that they, too, can be proud of.'

Vicki added: 'I hope Tavistock Youth Café can look forward to another ten years of success as a youth organisation for Tavistock.'

l Tavistock Youth Café Plus meets every Monday; the Zephyr Project — which teaches music — will meet Thursdays and Fridays will be generic sessions for all young people from 7pm to 9pm.

A band night with the Zephyr Project will be held at the unit on April 2 and all are invited to attend.