Ten years ago, in April 2015, the first Community Café was held in Trefonen village hall. It’s all thanks to the initiative of four people: Jeremy Gadbury, Sally Humphries, Clare Laycock and Jayne Lewis, supported by the local church. They saw the need for where people could come together once a week. It was decided on a Tuesday morning, offering those who came, a place to have a chat with friends and neighbours and a place of welcome for those new to the area and that concept continues to this day. Refreshments including homemade cakes were available. At the start lifts were offered to people so no one was excluded. The initial set-up costs like the coffee machine were financed through donations.
Although supported by All Saints Church, Trefonen, the volunteer rota for opening/closing, serving refreshments and supplying delicious homemade cakes includes both those from the church and the wider community. It has always been the policy that there is no charge for the refreshments, but donations are welcomed which support the running costs of the cafe. We support the local village shop by buying various supplies and the Fairtrade coffee from them.
Originally the café opened from 9am during school term-time, for those able to come after taking their children to school, but over the years the numbers gradually fell away so the café now opens 10am to 11.30am. The only time the café is not open, is for the 2 weeks over Christmas and for the annual coach trip to the seaside in August. At one time there was also a trip to the pantomime, although that no longer happens. Covid had an impact, but the café opened its doors as soon as it was allowed and people returned.
Most of those who come are regulars, but it’s also good to see new faces. When serving refreshments there is always time for a friendly chat. It is a welcoming space, much enhanced by the local Arty group’s imaginative displays.
A monthly Foot clinic session was provided, although since Covid that is now bi-monthly. Other activities and events have always taken place from the Carol sing-along, with the Trefonen school children joining us in past years, to supporting various charities and fund-raising events throughout the year. Our most recent charity we supported was this year’s Oswestry Foodbank’s Easter Egg appeal. It is a convenient place for small group meetings to take place. Over the last year Qube had been able to offer their monthly pop-up blood pressure testing sessions. In more recent years some of the community cafe volunteers have provided support in serving refreshments in the village hall during the popular Trefonen Hill Walk weekend, for those returning from the long walks or hill run.
We could not let such an occasion pass by without some sort of celebration, so to mark the Community Café’s 10th anniversary there was a birthday cake, a display of photos and live music. All those who were originally involved in setting it up, but no longer able to be involved were invited back.
It is a huge thank you to everyone who volunteers and those who support us, that we were able to raise a cup and say cheers to 10 years of the community café and long may it continue.
