When choosing a venue for any meaningful event, the space has to offer more than just four walls. It needs heart, purpose, and a genuine connection to the community it serves. That’s exactly what makes 6VT City Youth Cafe, not just a venue, but the venue.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, 6VT City Youth Cafe has been a safe, welcoming space for young people across the city for more than 30 years. Since opening its doors in July 1994, the cafe has grown into one of Edinburgh’s most trusted and valued youth organisations, welcoming more than 180,000 young people through its doors. Its impact is felt daily, not just within its walls, but across the wider community.

Open 52 weeks a year and five days a week, 6VT provides consistent support at times when many traditional services are closed. This reliability has made it a vital lifeline for young people who need somewhere safe to go, someone to talk to, or simply a place to belong. Whether young people are dropping in to spend time with friends, explore new activities, or access guidance and support, 6VT offers a warm, inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed and valued.

What makes 6VT truly special is its purpose-built approach. Bringing together youth workers, social workers, and specialist practitioners under one roof, the cafe operates as a genuine “one-stop shop”. This blended model ensures that young people can access everything from personal development opportunities to emotional and practical support in one supportive space. For many, it becomes not just a place to visit, but a place that helps shape brighter futures.

The organisation supports children and young people aged 0 to 25 through both open-access sessions and tailored programmes designed to meet a wide range of needs. Initiatives such as the Cairn Service provide confidential one-to-one support for young people affected by crime, offering both emotional guidance and practical help. Terrace Tots creates a welcoming space for young parents and their children to connect and receive support. Time to Talk places youth workers directly within hospital emergency departments to offer immediate, compassionate assistance during vulnerable moments.

Beyond this, 6VT delivers skills-based programmes like Keysteps Independent Living Skills, helping young people prepare for their first homes with confidence. Their Community Rail Partnership connects young people with creative projects and real-world skills through Scotland’s railways, while school holiday provision ensures safe, engaging activities and meals for young people during breaks from school.

Every service, every programme, and every conversation at 6VT is built around one core mission: encouraging young people to build on their strengths, take positive steps forward, and shape better futures for themselves and their communities.

This deep commitment to people and community is exactly why 6VT City Youth Cafe is the perfect setting for meaningful events, including my upcoming author book signing.

Hosting my event here isn’t just about choosing a location; it’s about supporting a place that actively changes lives. It’s about bringing people together in a space that already stands for connection, growth, and opportunity. There is something powerful about gathering in a venue that exists to uplift others, and I can’t imagine a more fitting setting.

Join us for a special evening

I’m delighted to be hosting my author book signing event at 6VT City Youth Cafe, and I would love for you to be part of it.

Author Book Signing Event — Holly Alex, I Thought You Cared
Thursday 2nd April 2026
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
6VT City Youth Café, 11–15 Vennel, Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HU

This will be a relaxed and welcoming evening featuring a short reading and discussion, audience Q&A, book signing, and the chance to meet and chat. Books will be available to purchase on the night, and there will be tea, coffee, juice, and light refreshments available.

Entry is completely free, and everyone is welcome, from young people and students to families, readers, and members of the wider community.

By attending, you’re not only supporting a local author event, but also showing support for an incredible Edinburgh charity that continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people every single day.

There truly is no better place to bring people together.