Cavey's Cabin opens in Redcar to help prevent youths going down route of crime
It's run by the Chris Cave Foundation
A new community hub in Redcar aimed at preventing young people from going down a path of crime is opening today.
Cavey's Cabin is based at Locke Park and it' i run by the Chris Cave Foundation, in honour of a local teenager who was stabbed to death in 2003.
His mum, Theresa, said: "We have referrals coming from social services for young people who've been arrested for the first time, they haven't been in trouble before, they've realised they've done something stupid and before they have to go back to answer their bail, we try and reduce their risk level so they don't get charged and they can get into the Prince's Trust and they can get into college or an apprenticeship, because once you're on bail nobody wants to know you.
"We've had one lovely young lad who was with us for about six months. He's now being trained to be a drain engineer and he was caught with drugs, knives and all sorts. He's now absolutely oevr the moon. He's a different kid. This is what we try and do. We try and change midnsets and we show them the dangers, the consequences and the ripple effect of violent crime in every shape and form.
"We support them and we support families in crisis. We give food packs out, we do everything in the community that we possibly can. The cabin is a base that we actually need and we treasure it. It has the angel wall in there for when our families come over who've lost loved ones and their pictures are all on the wall, so it's a hub for everybody.
"We're building a sensory garden in the park as well because it used to be a blind garden and there used to be flowers, plants and plaques on the wall with braille on them apparently. I want to recreate that garden with flowers that they can smell and feel for autistic and neurodivergent children to help ground them."