YOUTH club sessions at The Batch in Cadbury Heath have restarted after a four-month gap.
The centre, which is owned by South Gloucestershire Council, was forced to close after the operator, the Banjo Island Community and Sports Association (BICSA), handed back the keys in October last year.
The council carried out some repairs then partially reopened it at the end of February to allow Creative Youth Network to run services for young people.
Now the authority has begun a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process to secure a new long-term operator for the venue.
It is looking for someone who will run the building for the community, including the café, as well as to provide space for the youth club run by CYN.
Jack Fitzsimmons, youth work manager for Creative Youth Network, said: “We are really pleased to be able to restore essential services for young people and keen to continue them as an important part of our work with the community when a new operator is found. During the temporary closure, we maintained some youth work in the community and offered some 1:2:1 support, but young people really miss their safe space at The Batch youth club.”
South Gloucestershire cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Samuel Bromiley, said: “I am really pleased that, having done the much-needed work to restore and improve The Batch, we are now able to get Creative Youth Network back in to deliver activities for young people. We know how much they are valued by young people in the area.
“The next step is to find the right operator for the future, which will be able to offer stable management and put The Batch back at the heart of the community. This building is so much more than a café; it is a place to meet and a hub for many local sports teams and other groups. We are running a formal and transparent process to make sure we secure the right operators to help deliver these facilities.”
The opportunity to manage The Batch has been advertised to charities, community organisations and other suitable groups who could take on the management role. This includes managing the community spaces, including the Youth Wing for organisations such as CYN, operating the food and drink facilities, as well as for private hire for local people to use.
The council will scrutinise potential operators’ business plans to ensure they can provide stable management for the benefit of the local community. It is expected that a decision will be taken in the coming months to appoint a new operator, based on these assessments.
For more information about the services CYN will be running, visit their website at www.creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk or email southglosyouth@creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk.
For more information about the EOI process, please visit our website: https://www.southglos.gov.uk/business/property-for-sale-or-rent or email TheBatchEOI@southglos.gov.uk.