Pocklington Youth Bar: Central Pock

A much-needed place for young people in and around Pocklington to ‘hang out’ is up and running

Organisers behind a new community resource for teenagers in Pocklington hope it will turn out to be just as successful as the TV version that has inspired its creation.
Giving young people a voice is the aim of ‘Central Pock’, a non-alcoholic bar for 11-19-year-olds set up by Young People Count.
Named after the fictional Central Perk café in TV’s Friends, the idea is not only to give young people a place of their own to meet friends and play pool and table tennis, but also enable them to express their views through the arts and journalism.

A team of nine trustees, boasting a range of experiences of running such projects, make up the Young People’s Committee

And crucially, the centre – which is open three evenings a week – is also helping dispel many of the unfair negative images of young people often portrayed through the media, be it in newspapers, on TV or through social media.
“Young People Count was initially established by Christians from local churches and joined by other residents concerned about the lack of facilities for young people,” said Marianne Londesborough, who as chair of the Young People Count’s committee spearheaded the campaign to open Central Pock.
Housed in the former Oddfellows Arms pub on Union Street, young people voted for the name in the hope it will fulfill exactly the same need as its namesake, by bringing people together. “Consultations with the residents of Pocklington of all ages demonstrated support and a need for such a project, and within Union Street itself the trustees are working to secure good communication with all residents to ensure that the bar does not cause any disturbance,” added Marianne.
Although the lease runs until the end of the summer, organisers say this still gives the project an ideal opportunity to establish itself within Pocklington and gauge the level of interest in it.
A team of nine trustees, boasting a range of experiences of running such projects, make up the Young People’s Committee, which is responsible for the legal, financial and volunteer side of the running the bar. The trustees support the growing committee that is working to develop the facilities and give a voice to those who attend. With the bar currently open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings from 18:00 to 21:00, the team is discussing a summer programme and is already planning to increase its opening hours from September for the winter months.
“In contrast to the frequent bad press about young people, the project gives the opportunity to establish a ‘feel good’ base for young people to enjoy and be accepted,” added Marianne. “From this they are able to play their part in different events around the town and have their voice through the local paper and, hopefully soon, the local radio station.”
While trustees have initially been running the bar since it opened, new volunteers have already come forward to help out, enabling the bar to open for an extra night. The hope is that as more volunteers get on board, opening times can be extended even further. The project is registered with East Riding Voluntary Action and has the backing of the East Riding Youth and Family Support Team, and Pocklington Town Council, which has offered both financial support and advice.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the Central Pock project, whether it’s by providing financial support, or simply volunteering, please get in touch by:

• Email: ypcount@gmail.com
• Visit: ‘Young People Count’ on Facebook
• Call: 07910 187028.