Ilminster Social Enterprise Launches Level Up Bar to Sustain Youth Support Programme

Gamesmaster Cafe in Ilminster has launched a new evening venue, Level Up bar, as owner Evelyn Ashford restructures the business to protect support work delivered through the Silver Lining programme.

Silver Lining provides job coaching for young adults facing severe mental health challenges and special educational needs. Ashford said reduced public funding and growing operating pressures made the existing model increasingly difficult to sustain.

As part of the change, the upstairs retail unit Punkydory has closed. In its place, the business has secured an alcohol licence and introduced a themed bar format with live music and evening events.

The strategy is clear. Income from the night time offer is now being used to help fund community support activity during the day. In practical terms, commercial hospitality revenue is underwriting social care focused coaching work that might otherwise have contracted.

The Ilminster case reflects a wider trend across Somerset where independent operators are adapting quickly as grant funding becomes less predictable. For many small enterprises, financial resilience now depends on combining public facing services with stronger private revenue streams.

Ashford says the immediate priority is stability. If the evening model continues to perform, she plans to keep Silver Lining provision in place and expand partnerships with local employers.