Frequently asked questions
What are your opening times?
The Basement Youth Café is open every Thursday (within school term time) from 4pm - 6pm
What is the age range of young people who can attend The Basement?
The Basement Youth Café is open to school years 7 - 13.
How safe are the premises?
Our youth centre operates within a public space. Whilst the space is sectioned off and clearly signposted for young people only, there is public access within the wider building as the business operates as a cinema. To ensure safeguarding risks are minimised, the youth café area is manned by a member of our team – meaning that young people are supervised at all times. The safety of our young people is paramount therefore all activities throughout The Basement adhere to our Risk Assessments. Whilst we will make every effort to ensure the safety of the young people attending the cafe, please be aware that the toilet facilities are open to all members of the public and can be accessed by anyone.
What will happen on my child’s first visit?
On your child's first visit to The Basement Youth Café, our team will give them a tour of the space and they’ll also get a free toastie. We will take some emergency contact information from them when they arrive so we can get in touch with you immediately if needed, and will also outline the culture and rules of the space.
Are there any other, hidden costs?
The main costs for The Basement are £3.50 for a toastie and cinema ticket (The Basement have exclusive access to the cinema once a month). From time to time, The Basement organises day trips and weekend residential breaks that incur additional subsidised costs. If your child is invited to one of these trips, you will be made aware prior to the event.
Can young people leave when they attend The Basement?
The Basement Youth Café is a drop-in space, with various activities available for young people to engage in at their discretion. We will also have some weeks of ‘gathered time’ where we will encourage young people to participate in group games and challenges, creating a platform to give an invitation to other events that we run.
I want to contact someone at The Basement – how do I do this?
If your query is quite specific – take a look at our contact us page and you should be able to find the right person to speak to by filling out our form.
Do you offer tours of The Basement for parents/carers?
We do offer tours around The Basement Youth Café for parents or carers wishing to see it first-hand, this is on an appointment basis. Please contact hi@thebasement.org.uk
Are there rules my child must adhere to when attending The Basement?
We ask all young people who attend The Basement to respect the team, building and other members when attending a session. All new members should also agree to The Basement Youth Café behavioural policy when signing up for a membership at The Basement. If a young person refuses to adhere to our behavioural policy/the law, we reserve the right to suspend or permanently ban them without appeal.
What is the capacity at The Basement?
The Basement can regularly hold up to 65 young people and operates a first come first served policy.
In an emergency how do I contact The Basement?
The Basement partners with the Ealing project, which provides our youth cafe space. On a Thursday during The basement hours (4-6pm) if your young person is attending the youth café and you need to contact in a genuine emergency please email hi@thebasementyouth.org and we will endeavour to keep an eye on email each session.