Help us to save our community cafe

Our Story & Why We’re Fundraising

When you visit our café, it’s hard to imagine what stood here before. This space was once a dusty car park and a fly-tipping site — neglected, unsafe, and unused. During the Covid lockdown, when so much of the world felt uncertain, I made it my mission to transform this forgotten corner into something positive for the community.

With my own hands, vision, and personal savings, I built the café from the ground up — a completely self-funded small business. It became more than a place for coffee and food; it became a safe, welcoming hub for families, friends, and neighbours to gather.

But over the past years, we’ve been hit by repeated burglaries — almost 15 incidents this year alone, including TWO just this week . Each break-in leaves behind costly damage that we simply can’t afford to keep repairing. On top of rising costs and the investment we’ve already made in refurbishing the café for our customers. As the cafe is a non permanent structure it is not eligible to be covered by insurance meaning that after each break in I have been personally funding the support of the cafe — something that is no longer sustainable.

We’re fundraising to install:

A safer outdoor area, so our café can be protected from further break-ins.

Child-safe gates, to secure the entrance and prevent little ones from running directly onto the busy main road.

When creating the cafeI had initially purchased a gate to relocate the entrance to a safer side, away from the main road, unfortunately the council did not approve this plan. I completely respect their decision and remain committed to working in partnership with the local council, but i'm sure you would agree that a gate will provide a more secure space for little ones and peace of mind for all.

This fundraiser isn’t about upgrading a business for luxury — it’s about safety, survival, and keeping a community space alive. With your support, we can secure the café, keep it open for everyone, and continue being part of the neighbourhood we all care about, a safe, warm space for people to connect. Our café has hosts so many community activities; Bump & Baby mornings, with free pastries for new parents, Crochet and craft clubs, bringing neighbours together, Charity fundraisers, supporting local and global causes and work placements for young adults with special needs, giving them skills, confidence, and opportunities.

It’s these things — not just the coffee and food — that make our café a home from home.

If you’ve ever felt the warmth of our café, or if you simply believe in the power of local spaces to bring people together, please donate and share. Every contribution helps us keep the doors open, the lights on, and the community spirit alive.

With love & gratitude as always,

Stephanie