NEW Life Church celebrated the opening of its Refresh café and ice cream parlour last weekend.

The project is a newly refurbished, multi-purpose community resource and training facility located in the church basement.

The idea of the project is to provide a venue for community outreach programmes and also offer volunteering and training opportunities for young people in Okehampton.

The focus for several voluntary and funded user groups for the facility will be to strengthen and serve the local community through training, education and enhancing social skills.

The opening was conducted by Okehampton mayor Cllr Maureen McDonald.

The café will provide space and facilities for Supergang, a Wednesday evening group for local children that presents them with a fun and engaging way to relate with and learn about the Bible.

The youth club Street Level, which through relationship building and teaching aims to help youngsters find focus in their lives will also benefit from the new space.

Steven Waters, the children and youth worker with the church said: 'The opening weekend was fantastic, a really good two days.

'The place looks absolutely brilliant, and the vibe was so great over the weekend, with everyone so happy the project has come to fruition.

'We had the official opening ceremony on Saturday, and another ceremony on Sunday for those with the church who have been involved with Refresh.

'It's been a real group effort getting this project up and running, with the idea first being raised about four years ago, and the last two years involving an awful lot of hard work to get the café open. The church itself has raised £100,000 toward the café, with donations and fundraising events, everyone has been amazing.

'Our manager Melissa has also played a massive role in getting things off the ground. She originally came in as a consultant, and has been so helpful with guiding the business forward.

'We're slowly going to be increasing our opening hours, but we're taking things slowly and see how it goes. The money raised at the café will be pumped back into the community and projects in the town.

'We've spoken with the school about having a homework club here, and youth groups and other organisations will benefit from Refresh opening.'

From next week the café and ice-cream parlour will be open to the public between 10am and 2pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 9.30am and 1pm on Saturdays.

The café is currently looking for volunteers in a number of staff positions.

To register your interest, please e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] for the attention of manager Melissa Mahabir.

l Cllr Maureen McDonald, mayor of Okehampton, officially opened the New Life Church's Refresh Café last Saturday.