From Telegraph and Argus
Young people in Bingley will have a place of their own after the completion of a major project to bring a youth cafe to the town.
Bingley Youth Cafe has now opened following a renovation of a former maintenance area in the basement of Bingley Pool in Myrtle Place.
Staff at the cafe, which will have its official opening in September, will provide activities and advice on issues such as health and housing to hundreds of people expected to use the new centre each week. It has been opened thanks to a grant of £498,903 secured by Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services (SBVS) from the Big Lottery Fund and money from Council funds.
More than 150 young people are already members of a pioneering youth cafe in Bingley, which officially opened on 18 October 2011.

Friends of Bingley College have provided £900 to help fund this ICT suite at Bingley Youth Cafe. Many thanks to all who contributed.

Councillor David Heseltine opened the facility.
The Bingley Youth Cafe is housed in what used to be a basement of Bingley Pool.

Extracts from Telegraph and Argus : The scheme, funded by almost £500,000 from the Big Lottery, operates five days a week from Bingley Pool, offering cooking lessions, arts and crafts workshops, games, music and advice services.

The official opening follows the renovation of a former maintenance area in the pool's basement. Businesses and residents provided free or heavily discounted services to help the project.
Paul Stephens, chief executive of Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services, said: “It is great to see the plans of the last few years come to fruition. We always knew there was a need for another youth project in Bingley and people of all ages within the community told us this was the case.
“Now we have an excellent team working with the young people, led by Paula Stone and to see so many young people using the youth cafe at this early stage confirms that are plans were absolutely right for Bingley and district."
Bingley Neighbourhood Policing Team have said the cafe, aimed at 13 to 19-year-olds, had helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the town since it opened in August.
Inspector Andy Croasdale said: “We are delighted to see it be received so positively by residents and, more importantly, the young people who use it. We have already seen anecdotal evidence which suggests a drop off in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area since the cafe opened.”
Sergeant Di Collins, also of the NPT, said: “Some of the feedback we have had is already suggested that teenagers who may have been drinking before on an evening have stopped and are turning up for sessions at the club.”
Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said the cafe, which was also funded by grants from Bradford Council, was the result of several organisations and individuals pulling together.

Graham Hutton, Bradford Youth Service manager, said: “It is extremely positive to see that good partnership working has resulted in a new youth cafe opening. Young people make a valuable and positive contribution to our local communities and it will be important that they continue to play an active role.”