A teacher is leaving the profession to launch a crusade to cut youth crime.

Simon Taylor, 26, wants to stop youngsters hanging around on the streets and give them somewhere safe to go.

Mr Taylor will leave Hazelmere Junior School, Greenstead, at the end of term and devote his time to setting up a drop-in cafe for teenagers in Colchester town centre.

He hopes it will mean it will deter them from committing petty crime and causing a nuisance.

Trained workers may be available to offer advice and counselling and spot those who have drug problems of may be suffering abuse.

Mr Taylor, who is a year five teacher and PE co-ordinator and lives on St John's where he runs a youth group, said: "It will target people who are too young to get into pubs and clubs and are hanging around at night, maybe causing trouble.

"It will be somewhere for them to go free from adults pushing drugs, a safe venue, somewhere where they won't feel at risk.

"I have done a lot of youth work in the past and I really want to carry on that work, to help those who need somewhere to go and someone to talk to."

Mr Taylor is working with Colchester police, Colchester Council and Essex Youth Service but the project will be set up and run by an organisation which is hoping for charitable status.

It will be called Dropzone and has a board of trustees but needs to raise £15,000 to kick start the project, which will target 14 and 15-year-olds.

They are currently looking for a suitable venue and hope to find a building in the Head Street area of town.

The cafe will house a pool table, table football and possibly a wall where youngsters can write graffiti.

In the long term Mr Taylor, who has studied conquering delinquency through sport, hopes to set up sports teams and involve local businesses in setting up activities, such as makeover evenings.

Mr Taylor will be supported by his wife, who works full-time, until he is able to draw a wage from the cafe. He had worked at Hazelmere Junior School for nearly three years.

Drop-in dream - Simon Taylor is quitting teaching

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