The Hole in the Wall

One of the aims of the The Hole in the Wall in Dawlish was to establish it as a drop in youth venue which is safe & warm with positive activities on offer if the young people choose to take them up & where staff are positive role models.
Following consultation at Dawlish Community College we have opened at times when young people want. – after school, evenings, weekend & school holidays.
The Hole in the Wall is somewhere to go with something to do:

Pool tables
Board games
Table football
Chill & chat sofa zone
TV/DVD
Music
Xboxes; Wii

We also have a Well stocked bar – milk shakes, hot chocolate, cola, J2O, crisps, fruit, choc bars.

In a recent survey conducted by Vicky one of the youth leaders the main two answers given by young people as to what they enjoy about coming to the Hole in the Wall were – meeting friends & chilling out closely followed by having fun & somewhere to go.
When asked how they heard about the Hole in the Wall –50% replied from friends!

The Youth population in Dawlish is approximately 1200 young people (11-19 yrs) & since opening we have now
120 on our books attending regularly throughout the week. We are averaging around 70 attendances per day.
In the after school sessions the majority attending are 11-14 yrs whilst in the evenings it is mainly 14-17 yr olds
The sex split is pretty even the young people attending are mainly 60 / 40 male female

Comments from young people:

"This is a great space”
“Before this was open I used to hang around the streets doing nothing”
“After school I used to go home & watch TV “
“It used to be boring”
“People listen to us here”

Comments from the community:

“My youngsters now have somewhere to go”
"Its about time somewhere like this was open for our kids” (parent)
"My kids love it!” (parent)
“My children come home buzzing” (parent)
“They are well looked after” (parent)
“I like the way the leaders listen & interact with the young people” ( PCSO)

We are grateful for continued support from:
Our army of volunteers without whom we couldn’t open

Youth Offending team
Antisocial behaviour team
Police & PCSOs
Local churches
Local residents & businesses
Local Councillors

As a Christian organisation we are also very thankful to our God who keeps us safe, looks after us, protects us, who loves us and who meets all our needs.