Community cafe closes its doors (From Swindon Advertiser)

Community cafe closes its doors

11:10am Friday 17th February 2012 in News By Josh Layton

COMMUNITY Cafes of Swindon has had to close one of its venues in Freshbrook due to a lack of customers.

The last session was held on Wednesday and from now on the charity will focus on its other operation at Toothill Community Centre on Mondays.

Julie Hughes, the chairman of the trustees, 60, said: “The decision has not been taken lightly.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce this closure, but we cannot continue making a loss.

“The need for a community cafe in Freshbrook just doesn’t seem to be there anymore.

“Our volunteer staff and supervisors have worked very hard; they are a good team and have loved serving people and making them feel at home. But we can’t manufacture customers.”

Four volunteers helped out at the cafe, along with a paid supervisor, who may be found work at Toothill.

Julie said: “It’s a puzzle why more people haven’t come to the cafe.

“We did have a handful of regular customers and, ironically, Wednesday was quite busy.

But other the last few months, particularly since the end of last year, we haven't the number of customers to make it viable.

The volunteers have worked hard and they feel a certain sadness the same as the trustees do.

“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes and we have had placements from local schools.

“But we are very keen to continue and the future is positive.”

The cafe had been run at Freshbrook Community Centre on Wednesdays since 2003 following a request from young mums in the community to have somewhere to meet and have coffee.

It grew into a focus for the whole community.

When the centre closed for a while in recent years the cafe was forced to go elsewhere in Freshbrook, but renewed its association when the centre re-opened under new management.

The Toothill cafe is thriving. It is open on Mondays between 9.30am and 1.30pm and from March 7 it will also be open at the same time on Wednesdays.

Many of the Freshbrook volunteer staff have been serving at Toothill on Mondays under a paid cook supervisor.

“We do hope that customers who did support us at Freshbrook will be able to follow us to Toothill,” Julie said.

“Operationally it will be easier to be in the one place for the week and we look forward to continuing to provide nutritious and affordable meals and snacks in a friendly atmosphere.”