<div>Hi
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<div>I am a loyal and longstanding volunteer at Board In The City CIC Gameboard cafe. So for those whom do not know what Board In The City Board Cafe is. The answer is simple, they are a local Southampton Board Game Cafe who are not-for-profit.
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<div>Bhreen one of our volunteers and Games Masters hosting games.
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<div>They not only host themselves but meals on wheels for isolated and vulnerable people, Pilates classes, various charities such as Beyond Reflections, Art House CIC food pantry, and many many many more.
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<div>Arthouse aka Bunker Events using the space for Pantry.
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<div>They also offer voluntary and paid work experience for people with massively complex special needs and mental health issues.
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<div>This work experience has led to so many people getting into full-time paid employment as a direct action of being given a chance and learning how to act properly in a workplace environment.
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<div>One of the many events hosted at our cafe.
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<div>This place is home to many people who want to come and game and the like. It's a home to many people who need warmth, a friendly face and most importantly the food is great.
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<div>People enjoying Board games.
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<div>The issues began during COVID-19 the bills still needed paying despite being shut to the public for several years straight.
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<div>When they finally managed to reopen they had to abide by social restrictions which led to a massively reduced capacity and loss of ability to pay the bills and then the tax office smashed a bill on top despite them being closed as well. Plus, the consumer confidence of actually getting out the house was a factor, after being shut away for so long.
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<div>More board game fun.
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<div>Despite this with nothing coming in and bills mounting, they decided to take direct action. They delivered thousands of meals to isolated people across Hampshire. Took a homeless person off the street and let him sleep in the cafe. They just stepped up.
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<div>They also helped to deliver medication via the Southampton Coronavirus Mutual Aid Group, manned the phones and much more to many people who just could not leave due to being vulnerable according to the advice at the time.
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<div>Dylan helping to prepare meals on wheels for isolated folk and vulnerable people all over Southampton and beyond.
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<div>Now it is crunch time, without this cafe being able to operate many organizations, charities, and vulnerable people will be lost, as well as staff, volunteers, and apprentices.
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<div>The cafe is not in debt through any fault of its own this was all thanks to COVID-19 and that is it. The irony is that the cafe became sustainable in December 2019 just before the debt started! Without this cafe a massive part of the community will be lost as stated. Any help you provide will be sent directly to them to sort out the debt and give them a chance to survive.
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<div>The funds will be used to pay off a majority of the COVID-19 bills and tax that is it. These bills are crippling the cafe and means many people are having to go without to survive and keep the doors open for all.
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<div>We appreciate you reading this and hope you can help in some way even if that means sharing the fundraiser across social media, to the press, and more. The more eyes the more we can get to the main target.
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<div>This is a rolling target and therefore you may see the minimum target, but this is not the entire debt, that is in the main system, but updates automatically as each goal is reached.
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<div>You can see a video here showing what it means to so many which was made in <strong>Board In The City by Home Theatre funded by Southampton Forward. </strong>
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<div><a href="https://youtu.be/HthujQDcXAI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://youtu.be/HthujQDcXAI" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/HthujQDcXAI</a></a>
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<div><strong>You can also find out more about Board In The City CIC what they do and their impact here:</strong>
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boardinthecity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Board In The City Cafe Facebook</strong></a>
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<div><a href="https://www.boardinthecity.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Board In The City Cafe Website</strong></a>
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<div>Thank you from all of us volunteers, the people in work experience, the apprentices, and all the rest of the family. We truly appreciate every bit of support at this incredibly difficult time.
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Daniel Coutts

Anonymous

Sophie Hawkins

Karen Roberts

Mrs Sophie Hawkins

Mr H A Kroon

John Prior

Laurie Rothwell

Harriet James

Carlene Metcalf

Stefan Bleeck

Amber Walsh

Peter White

Jack Smith

Rachel Scott

Bhavin Dedhia

Carlton Calver

Save Board In The City CIC For The Community

Save Board In The City CIC For The Community

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