Tavistock Youth Café awarded POCA funding

The Tavistock Youth Café has received £2,370 in funding from Devon & Cornwall Police, providing a significant boost to its efforts to support young people in the area. The funding, seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), will enable the charity to expand its range of activities, including boxing and swimming, for young people at risk of exclusion or facing barriers to education.

The Youth Café, based on Pixon Lane in Tavistock, offers a safe and relaxed environment where young people can socialise, participate in activities, and access guidance. The charity also organises trips, project planning, and volunteering opportunities, helping youngsters build confidence and connect with their community.

Sergeant Tom Ottley of the Tavistock Neighbourhood Police Team, who supported the charity’s funding application, praised its work: “This is a fantastic local charity who do a lot of important work, and we are pleased they were chosen to receive this vital funding. Young people in places such as West Devon can feel isolated and need support to stay on the right path and look after their wellbeing; this will provide them with a valuable opportunity.”

Police Community Support Officers Debbie Hollinson and Kevin Williams recently visited the Youth Café, meeting staff and youngsters benefiting from its services.

Vicki Lloyd-Walsh from Tavistock Youth Café expressed gratitude for the funding, saying: “We are really excited to have been granted POCA funding from Devon & Cornwall Police. This money will go towards a youth project for young people who are on the edge of exclusion from school, on reduced timetables, out of education, and facing other barriers to learning—making them vulnerable to falling through the gaps in education and at risk of becoming out of sight.

“The POCA funding will pay for them to have boxing coaching and gym introductions over the next year. Both of these activities have proven to be really popular in the past, and we are so happy that we can deliver this again to our groups. Thank you to Devon & Cornwall Police for supporting young people.”

In 2024, approximately £80,000 of POCA funding has been distributed across Devon and Cornwall to support local charities and community groups. The funds are sourced from cash and assets seized from convicted criminals.

For more information about Tavistock Youth Café and its initiatives, click here.

To apply for POCA funding, contact your local Neighbourhood Police Team via the Devon & Cornwall Police website. Police stations in West Devon, including Okehampton and Tavistock, also have public enquiry offices for face-to-face assistance.