The Chill Out Zone opened in 2003 as a millennium project from Newent Millennium Trust. The Trust received a Lottery Grant to buy the building and The Chill Out is now run by trained staff and volunteers who are always fundraising to keep it going.

The Chill Out Café at 36 Broad Street is a base for 11 – 18 years olds.  Please note that no unaccompanied children under the age of 11 are allowed into Chill Out.

The Youth Service runs a Drop-In Youth Café (currently Monday & Thursday evenings from 6pm until 9pm) where young people have access to a variety of activities, ranging from recreation to learning basic home skills such as cooking. The Youth Café is staffed by 5 part-time trained youth workers and volunteers.

Whilst pool continues to be one of the favourite activities at Chill Out and many matches have been played on our recently refurbished table, some of the other activities enjoyed by our young people include: bingo, cooking, art, listening and dancing to music, just chilling, film nights, debates on their choice of subjects, boundaries at home, CSE, mental health, healthy eating, money, internet safety, age of consent, single parenting, drugs and alcohol awareness.

The youth workers and volunteers are compassionate and understanding, listening and challenging the young people on their views as well as enjoying the chaos of 25-35 young people most evenings.

Facilities include a pool table, a fully equipped kitchen, Arts and Craft material, Garden and Free Wi-Fi. The young people have personally fundraised to buy a Wii and Pool Cues to enhance the Café. To date, the Service has supported over 700 members in their transition from young people to integrated members of the community. Jane Stevens, Youth and Community Manager, recently received the Newent Ambassador’s Award for the work that the ChillOut does with young people.

Newent Initiative Trust has provided work experience in the community café and youth club for Year 10 pupils from Newent Community School and those 16-18 year olds who are at college attend the sessions, willingly transferring their experiences of college life. The Trust also provides Work Experience to young people doing Health and Social Care at Gloucestershire College.