This summer the Next Level Café provided six weeks of varied activities open to any young people wishing to attend.

We had a great summer here at the Next Level Café, met lots of new faces and also had a few of the old regulars come back. Having such a variety of days and projects meant that the summer seemed to fly by, and, looking back, was a really successful one.

Especially when you remember back to anxious faces trying fruit blindfolded on Health Day in Sports Week, Damion getting egged in Film Week, nervous faces singing in Music Week, Jordan trying to plaster his whole leg in Craft Week, A lost penguin in Holiday Week and some serious gaming and swimming in Gaming Week. These few memories are just a handful from our summer bag.

If you’d like some more information on the individual sessions, and to see some of the pictures (complementary and embarrassing) from this Summer, (click link etc.)

Film Week

For this week we used a film already written but not filmed by a young person who had previously been attending the Café. This week enabled young people to look at most of the aspects of producing a film. This included acting, costumes, make-up, filming, lighting, directing and editing. Upon completion, the group were able to watch their final version of the film and were able to bring any family along.
The film turned out to be a real success and the final version makes a very entertaining piece to watch. All of the young people that participated in this should be very pleased as a lot of effort and dedication went into this and it was evident to see some budding film-makers out there!!

Music Week

Working alongside S.E.N.D (an experienced music-making organisation), participants were able to write, record, mix and produce their own music. This produced a wide variety of different types of music. Some young people made songs to tell the world that they are ‘shopping crazy’, some made fast and heavy tunes using music creation computer programmes and some turned their hand to learning a little bit of bass guitar. Quite a noisy week, but with some great finished pieces of work, all with completed designs of front and back album covers.

Sports Week

Sports week included a little bit of gaming to get us started, and then straight into
a trip to laser-quest in which we saw some great teamwork with lots of shoot-ups and macho behaviour (apart from Richard teaming up on a solo game with a group of girls). Upon the sports day the staff saw some tired faces in the new summer sun (bless ‘em). The week ended with Health Day, where young people’s taste buds were tested by fruit whilst blind folded and everyone contributed to some healthy eating artwork.

World Craft Week

This week gave participants an opportunity to try new and different crafts from around the world. This also gave participants the opportunity to make a big mess (only joking!). But through the mess came some really good quality pieces of artwork.
On the second day we all went on a trip to Staunton Harold (a scenic country manor with an area of country crafts, including a space for pottery workshops). This was a great day with lots of enthusiasm and smiles and everyone should be congratulated for contributing to such a fun day for all!!

Holiday Week

Next Level Café made a brilliant photo board (the sort that you put your face through to become part of a picture) for Loughborough’s beach event. The photos of Liam and Ben still make us smile.
The Next Level Café football team played well on the World-Cup football tournament but sadly no trophies. Maybe next year?!
This week finished off with a visit to the great outdoors of Dovedale (part of the Peak District in Derbyshire). Where everyone had to walk further than all the way to the bus stop oh no!! But everyone survived and smiles appeared upon sight of an ice-cream van. It’s just a shame we took a detour.

Gaming Week

Strong competition for the prizes this week as the Next Level Café has some seriously accomplished gamers amongst us (but luckily for the young people, the staff weren’t allowed to compete). Blake A and Ben R took a prize each and Nathaniel won overall. Well done to all!!!
Also during this week there was a trip to Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre in which a group went Canoeing and Quad biking. This was quite a soggy event for all as most people that didn’t capsize jumped in anyway and anyone who didn’t get wet during canoeing got covered in mud during quad biking anyway!!