Newent's youth cafe, the Chill Out Zone, is looking for new funding partners to keep it going for the next three years.

Its existing funding only lasts until this autumn and the search is already on for more cash.

A new information bro-chure for the Broad Street venue has been produced by youth worker Penny Freeman.

She said: "With the present staffing and opening hours, the running cost is £24,000 per year, 75 per cent of which is staff costs. Funds are secured until September 2004.

"Beyond that date we are seeking to raise funds for a further three years.

"Taking account of our plans to employ more staff and open daily after school hours, we need to raise £35,000 per year over three years. Our intention is to find a number of funding partners to share the funding, over the three-year period."

Until now, the Chill Out Zone has been paid for by the Lottery Community Fund and money secured through Forest of Dean District Council.

Future plans for the Chill Out Zone include building a shelter to the rear of the cafe, so young people can stand outside, and constructing a computer workstation downstairs freeing the computer room for the after school club and making it an Internet cafe.

Youth workers also plan to link in with other agencies to tackle issues that young people face