Volunteers in a village near Ellesmere have been given a special award after raising nearly £32,000 for various charities by holding regular coffee mornings.
Shropshire’s High Sheriff, Jane Trowbridge, called in at Criftins parish hall on Thursday to present a certificate of appreciation to the group that runs the monthly get-togethers.
Praising their ‘extraordinary’ efforts, she said the award was ‘in recognition of great and valuable service to the community.
The Coffee Club was launched in September 2017 and has continued ever since, except for an 18-month break during the Covid restrictions.
Organiser Kay Egerton said: I was really surprised when I learnt that the High Sheriff was coming to present us with her personal award for volunteering. We’re delighted to receive it because it recognises the fantastic efforts by our dedicated team of 12 volunteers, who work very hard to offer a warm welcome with coffee and homemade cake to between 80 and 100 people every month. Our team includes three wonderful men and I think their involvement has encouraged a group of other men to come along regularly, so the coffee mornings are not just for women only.”
She added: “Receiving this award also acknowledges the tremendous support we get from the large number of people who attend every month and enable us to raise so much money for worthwhile causes.
“We have people coming from Ellesmere and the surrounding areas as well as our own village. It gives those who are often on their own an opportunity to come out and meet others, and it really brings the community closer together. We’re especially delighted to welcome a group from the Our Space community centre in Ellesmere who join us each month. It wouldn’t be the Coffee Club without them.”
The club’s January meeting was in aid of Blood Cancer UK and raised more than £600.
Since it began, the club has raised money for more than 30 charities. They include the Lingen Davies Cancer Appeal, the Severn Hospice, the Air Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Society, and the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, as well as local churches and community organisations.
“It’s amazing,” said Kay. “Most months we also have a blood pressure reading service, run by volunteers and we offer a table of surplus supermarket food for a small donation.”
The coffee mornings are held from 10am-12.00 on the last Thursday of every month. Admission is £2 to include coffee and cake, and there’s an opportunity to win prizes in a giant raffle.
The club’s next meeting will be held on Thursday February 26 and will be in aid of St Matthew’s Church, Criftins.
Pictures by Diana Flint show the High Sheriff, Jane Trowbridge, with Criftins Coffee Club volunteers
Coffee Club organiser Kay Egerton receives the certificate of appreciation from the High Sheriff
The framed certificate will be displayed in the parish hall
