Red Route Cafe opens in Clapton

The Red Route Cafe opens at the Levy Centre

Music producer Pete Waterman and Lord Levy were among the luminaries at the launch of a new Clapton café that supports local young people with employment and training skills as well as volunteering opportunities.

Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Springboard’s Red Route Café in the Levy Centre, Lower Clapton Road, rolled out the red carpet at an opening ceremony featuring body-popping, spoken word poetry and dance.

The Red Route Café is based at The Levy Centre where Springboard Hackney works predominantly with young people aged 16-25 years old providing a range of learning programmes including basic skills, vocational and work-based training and personalised support.

Lucy de Groot, Chief Executive of CSV, said: “I am delighted that at Springboard Hackney we are attracting so many more young people to take up training opportunities and build themselves a positive future. With learner numbers at a two-year high and daily visitors doubling in the last 18 months this is a vibrant place.

“The development of the café signals the next phase for the centre with wonderful new facilities which will greatly enhance the learning environment, giving young people the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through volunteering and training.”

Lord Levy, Chairman of CSV said: “We are very grateful to the Lockwood Charitable Foundation for assisting in making this project possible and ensuring that the people of Hackney, especially its young people, have every opportunity available to them to boost their confidence and their CVs making them ready for employment.”

Sophie Earnshaw, Springboard Hackney’s Company Manager, said: “The Red Route Café will act as a community hub for local people. All profits from the café will be re-invested into Springboard Hackney to increase its offer and supporting more local people.

“We hope that in launching this café, more people will discover all the exciting things we do here including apprenticeships, foundation learning, skills development and volunteering programmes. We believe nobody should be left behind and in these hostile economic times, projects like this are needed more than ever.”