Royal seal of approval for Armadillo

HRH The Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward) came to Yate on Tuesday 13th December to visit the Armadillo Youth Cafe and Venue. Despite a storm that delayed his helicopter flight, the Earl spent a long time talking to the young people and the organisers behind the venture.

There was some good coverage in the newspapers - check out the reports on the Gazette and Evening Post websites.

The Armadillo has its own website where photos of the visit will appear in the near future (click on the Cafe icon, then Royal Visit). You can also take a virtual tour of the building.

Update: You can now view photos here.

Yate Youth Venue and Cafe - the Armadillo is coming!

Chris Willmore explains the building and the way the Youth Venue and Cafe will be run

Several of the key committee members at the launch

Representatives of local organisations examine the plans

Yate Youth Venue and Cafe project was officially launched at two very well attended sessions last week, when representatives of local organisations and councils came to Poole Court to hear the details of the project.

This striking new building, which has already been nicknamed "The Armadillo", will be constructed on the side of the Leisure Centre and extend towards the roundabout.

Cllr Chris Willmore explained that it is not intended to be a youth club - it will be a cross between a students union and a social enterprise cafe, with young people very involved in running it. Young people have already been very involved in the design and the steering group.

This is a joint project of Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council. The core funding is secure to build the venue and to provide core opening hours, but they are now seeking sponsorship for many of the facilities within the building and to have more sessions each week.

Work has just started on the ground and the building should open in April next year.

Local Councillor Claire Young took the opportunity to discuss how young people from the rural areas can access the cafe, especially in the evenings. Watch this space for more on that.

Youth Cafe gets planning permission!

The proposed Youth Cafe in Yate has now received planning permission. The £1.3 million complex, which will be built between the leisure centre and the roundabout, will be jointly funded by Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

More change in Yate

Yate town centre has seen a lot of development recently and there is more to come. Tesco now has permission to build its new store in Yate (you can read more in the Gazette). Also Yate Town Council has agreed its half of the joint funding with South Glos Council for the Youth Cafe.

The new Health Centre is still on track and the NHS are asking people to come up with a name for it.