KidStop at the Rainbow Café opens to keep borough’s children safe

The Rainbow Café is located at Champness Hall on Drake Street and offers a unique KidStop service

A new café designed to keep the children of Rochdale safe with its KidStop programme has opened at Champness Hall on Drake Street.

The Rainbow Café was opened last week by Ruth Sykes: the KidStop programme was co-founded with Parents Against Grooming UK (PAG UK), who have given their full support to the service with their ‘Parent Patrol’.

Ruth said: “The cafe has been started by private funding by the people of Rochdale people to prevent Rochdale’s children from being in danger, and to also provide a cost-effective way to support our vulnerable families. It’s Rochdale people looking out for Rochdale children.”

Aimed at giving children in Rochdale both somewhere to go in an evening, with affordable meals, KidStop also offers professional and friendly advice until 9pm on Monday and Friday evenings. Teenage cafés also run until 9pm on Monday and Friday with computers and games.

The café also provides education for both children and parents with workshops arranged from self-defence to internet awareness, plus help for all parents.

PAG UK’s William Howarth said: “KidStop will turn the tide on CSE and any other form of child abuse but it needs the people of Rochdale to support it even if it’s popping in for a brew and chat to see what we are doing.

“We believe a subsidised café like this offering these services is needed here in Rochdale because of cuts that have been made. There are many families struggling plus a lack of policing and social care.”

The Rainbow Café is open on weekdays from 9.30am - 6.30pm and KidStop from 6.30pm to 9pm on Mondays and Fridays.