A FORWARD-thinking Lowestoft charity that helps teenagers to deal with their problems and get their lives back on track has unveiled its new community caf�.

Last year, JUMP – the Junior2Adult Unbiased Mentoring Project – opened its new headquarters in London Road North after securing a �487,191 Big Lottery grant.

Now, it has launched Caf� 6 in the town centre to raise funds to keep the project going, while also providing a training unit for young people who are not in education, training or employment and are struggling to find work experience.

The caf�, opposite the Marina Theatre, is part of big plans for Louise Botwright, project manager at JUMP.

After establishing JUMP in July 2007 to help 13 to 19-year-olds get their lives back on track, find a safe place to live, encourage them to learn skills to kickstart their careers and give them the motivation to move away from crime and anti-social behaviour, the charity aims to help out ahead of the closure of youth clubs in Lowestoft.

And Ms Botwright is keen for JUMP to expand across Waveney. She said: 'We have come so far in such a short time, and it is absolutely fantastic. And, with the youth clubs closing, we want to do everything we can to provide as many services as we can to vulnerable youngsters. We want to extend our facilities and the services we offer throughout Suffolk and branch out into rural areas across Waveney to give these young people somewhere to go.

'With the youth clubs closing, young people will be out on the streets: where are they going to go? So, we want to be able to provide a safe environment for young people where they can go and meet other youngsters. JUMP has proved to be a massive success, as we are run by young people for young people, and now we want to take our services to encourage other youngsters to join us, as they are the future.'

The caf� will provide young people with an opportunity to learn valuable skills in catering, retail, customer service and business administration.

'Caf� 6 will have a big focus on healthy eating and living, and we plan to hold regular events for local young people and their families focusing on the importance to cook healthy meals and eat together as a family, with taster days including cook-along sessions and recipe swapping,' Ms Botwright said.

'We would also like to make Caf� 6 a community hub and plan to hold regular events to bring together the young and old generations, again swapping recipes of real home-cooked food and exploring the benefits of healthy eating and how meals have changed over the years.

'Our young people have been busy coming up with event ideas such as a war memorial day: young people will be able to come along and have a healthy snack while chatting to older people about their experiences of war, days gone by and the history of our town.'

The caf� is open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am-4.30pm. It will also cater for business functions and parties.

For more information about Caf� 6, JUMP or volunteering opportunities, email louise@jumpuk.org or pop into the caf� at Seaview House, The Marina.