Off the street, into the café

Glebe PCYC has received a vital cash grant from the City of Sydney which will allow it to continue a successful training program targeting the area’s disadvantaged young people.

At Club Café 2037, the teenagers are taught a range of basic hospitality skills, not only giving them a second chance at learning, but also significantly boosting their employment prospects.

Café manager Robert Le Andrews, who trains and mentors the teens, said the core skills they learn include customer service, working in a team, and hospitality skills such as food preparation, coffee making, money handling, and hygiene.

“Most of the kids who come to us just want a sense of belonging to something,” he said. “In many cases they simply don’t get this at home.

“They appreciate what we do for them and they don’t give us any lip even though a lot of them have records with juvenile justice and are known by the local police.”

The driving force behind Club Café 2037, Senior Constable Sam Donni, said the program, which has been running for over four years, would benefit enormously from the Council grant.

“The grant from the Council will enable us to formalise the program and expand the training,” he said.

Constable Donni, who has worked with Glebe PCYC for seven years, said that practical programs such as the café training are critical to minimising local youth crime.

“It is very important to put them through these types of programs because what you are trying to provide is intervention as well as actually addressing issues which might be leading to their offending behaviour,” he said.

“The kids need something with structure in it. It’s great to have programs just for fun but it is the structured activities with set outcomes that are the most effective.”

The program has had a high success rate with many participants moving on to gain employment in the local community. The training they receive at the PCYC not only provides the young people with work experience, but also valuable references which are often a prerequisite for employment.

“There are four components,” said Constable Donni. “There are practical and theory modules, then barista training which we pay for. We may then approach a local business to take on some kids for further work experience – that’s the last stage of it.”

Sean, 16, who wants to one day become a chef, said he is grateful for the opportunity at the PCYC.

“The café keeps us out of trouble and gives us opportunities to do things we want to do with our lives,” he said.

Amy Lynn, also 16, is involved with the school holidays programs for younger children as well as the training café where she has taken on a leadership role.

“Sam is sending me on a barista course and a first aid course. Once I’ve done a barista course, I can get a job in any café. I’m very excited about that,” she said.

“I was once the learner and now I’m training Shaun and some of the other kids who have come in.”

The $4,800 grant was allocated from the City’s Community Service Grants Program 2010/2011. Applications are assessed against the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 program, as well as the aims identified in a broad range of social, cultural, economic and environmental policies.