A handful of volunteers from local churches in Deal run a community cafe called Cafe Eden, twice a week at St Richard's Church, Mill Hill. It is a not-for-profit café and any 'savings' are invested back into the Mill Hill community.
As well as serving filter coffee for 50p and bacon rolls for a quid (amongst other delights), we also hold a local councillors surgery, have the Citizens Advice Bureau visit, and the local PCSO and Community Warden. We have just started talks with the Deal With It group and we hope to hold an 'environmental' surgery, and possibly a forum, with practical hands on help, advising people how to use up leftovers, and stop wasting food. Most Fridays we have stalls, some bric-a-brac, some crafts, tables are currently free but all donations are appreciated.
As well as serving filter coffee for 50p and bacon rolls for a quid (amongst other delights), we also hold a local councillors surgery, have the Citizens Advice Bureau visit, and the local PCSO and Community Warden. We have just started talks with the Deal With It group and we hope to hold an 'environmental' surgery, and possibly a forum, with practical hands on help, advising people how to use up leftovers, and stop wasting food. Most Fridays we have stalls, some bric-a-brac, some crafts, tables are currently free but all donations are appreciated.
We have also started the process of starting up a Trussell Trust Foodbank, something which you may have been featured in the news recently (for more info check out their website www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects).
On Tuesdays we have started a toddler group, born out of Cafe Eden customers asking for our help in starting one up.
On Mondays we have crafting sessions, impromptu and relaxed, bring your own craft or sit and learn from others for free.
We have disabled access and totally welcome those with disabilities (we have many customers from local care homes) wheelchairs, pushchairs and breast feeding mums are all welcome...we even have a lady who brings her well behaved dog! We have toys for the kiddies.
It has been a year since we started and as we have gained the trust of the community we are now serving 50-60 people on a Friday. Although we are Christians, and see the project as 'outreach', we also have a volunteer from the local community, a wonderful man called Kenneth, who believes in his community....he washes up like a trooper!
We would love to encourage more volunteers, from all backgrounds, and also more customers so why not pop in and see what’s happening?
On Tuesdays we have started a toddler group, born out of Cafe Eden customers asking for our help in starting one up.
On Mondays we have crafting sessions, impromptu and relaxed, bring your own craft or sit and learn from others for free.
We have disabled access and totally welcome those with disabilities (we have many customers from local care homes) wheelchairs, pushchairs and breast feeding mums are all welcome...we even have a lady who brings her well behaved dog! We have toys for the kiddies.
It has been a year since we started and as we have gained the trust of the community we are now serving 50-60 people on a Friday. Although we are Christians, and see the project as 'outreach', we also have a volunteer from the local community, a wonderful man called Kenneth, who believes in his community....he washes up like a trooper!
We would love to encourage more volunteers, from all backgrounds, and also more customers so why not pop in and see what’s happening?
