Andrew Shields: Escape Youth Cafe

On Thursday 7^th August, the club met at Hawick Rugby Club where Debbie and her staff looked after us with a delicious meal followed by coffee and tray bakes.

Our President, Mairhi Trickett, welcomed members and guest speaker Andrew Shields before Andrew introduced himself as the assistant manager of Escape Youth Services. He also does illustrative work and recently published his first book for children, Gideon’s Great Adventure, available on Amazon. Andrew is involved in choreography and dance at many events in Hawick Town Hall and elsewhere.

At the age of 11, he discovered the Escape Youth Café in Buccleuch Street and at 14 joined Escape's Youth Committee. He said Escape empowered him and gave him confidence to believe in himself, so that by the time he was 18, he had joined the adult committee. While learning more himself, he was also helping youngsters find their feet. By the age of 27 he started as a paid part time Youth Officer and at 29 became the Assistant Manager of Escape.

The service, which is now 20 years old has 356 active members from Primary 6 through to Senior 6 who come to the weekly drop ins and get involved in projects, discussions and play. On average, 60 youngsters come to the Havelock Street premises on each of five nights a week.

Escape works with youngsters in every aspect of life, perhaps helping them through trauma, such as abuse, fears, neglect or poverty. They teach life skills like cooking, budgeting, how to deal with criticism, exams, arguments and discussions. They help those who have anxieties and in dealing with grief, bullying and growing up. Many of the youngsters can open up to the youth workers more than they would to their parents. They recently took 40 youngsters to Blackpool Leisure Beach for a day and similar days are organised throughout the year.

The cost of running Escape Youth Services is £210,000 a year. Scottish Borders Council provides an annual grant and there is an arrangement with them to rent the premises on a peppercorn rent for a 20-year term. Other funding comes from the likes of Hawick Rotary, from parents, and from other charitable organisations and trusts.

The service is a success largely due to the enthusiasm and determination of Sian Snowdon, Andrew and their team who give hundreds of youngsters a helping hand in a very important part of their life. The President then gave a vote of thanks to Andrew and the questions and discussions carried on for some time after.