Project notes: Starbucks Youth Cafe, Epsom, Surrey

Goals: To reduce antisocial behaviour and provide young people with a safe environment

Funding: Surrey County Council's Youth Development Service, Epsom and Ewell Business Partnership, and the local crime- and disorder-reduction partnership. The costs are subsidised by Starbucks.

While Friday nights may mean party time for young adults, under-18s often find themselves with nothing to do and the suburb of Epsom is no exception. Every weekend it suffers from street vandalism because, as Kevin Gargini, youth affairs officer at Epsom and Ewell Police, explains: "Young people have nowhere to go."

So the arrival in January 2004 of the Starbucks Youth Cafe provided a welcome alternative. The cafe, a partnership between Starbucks, the local youth service and a number of other local agencies, was the idea of Sarah Pemberton, a member of Epsom's youth forum, YELL. It involves the local branch of the coffee giant remaining open to 13- to 17-year-olds on Friday evenings from seven to 10pm. The cafe offers the young people a warm and safe place to go where they can relax and socialise without alcohol or cigarettes.

The project hopes it will reduce antisocial behaviour, crime and underage drinking. It also recognises that the age group it works with is often the victim of crime as well.

Many young people benefit from chatting with the on-site youth workers.

Starbucks is subsidising the cafe, allowing the cost of drinks to be reduced by 30 per cent. The project's business plan had expected its customers to spend roughly 4 a head, but the average spend per guest is currently 1.84. Despite making a loss, Starbucks has agreed to continue subsidising the cafe.

The project is particularly popular among young women and attracts 40 to 50 young people on Friday nights. YELL member Paul Miller says: "Though the cafe can't provide every young person in the borough with a place to go, it's a significant step in improving facilities."

- Got a project to share? Call Tristan Donovan 020 8267 4719, tristan.donovan@haynet.com.