We have The Ark Cafe, designated as a Warm Space in winter months, also serving hot drinks free all year round because of grants, but serving cold drinks, biscuits and snacks. In the cafe area, we sell surplus goods including fruit, vegetables, bakery, pasties and snacks, at very reasonable prices on our Market Tables. The cafe has books for sale, loan or exchange. There are games for adults and children, jigsaws, toys, and mindfulness/wellbeing exercise books. Carers are welcome to bring their careers, to have their lunches. The cafe is open on weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm, and on event days, which may include weekends.
We offer a community service for food delivery on a weekly basis for those needing support because of a personal or family crisis. This is called the Food Train, and was started when COVID hit us. Eligibility for this service has to be agreed, but acceptance gives access to other forms of support, via Citizens Advice or the Council as examples. We act as Administrators for the Parish Fund which helps those needing support.
Well-being workshops are offered on a regular basis with a trained counsellor, with the intention of creating supportive peer groups that continue long after the workshop completes. Some of these are drop in sessions needing no booking, but others are training courses that lead to better health and understanding of anxiety, stress, depression and loneliness, with action plans.
We have a kiln so we have weekly pottery classes in the day and on the evenings, with varying levels of creativity and competence in these classes.
Other classes offered include arts, crafts, and music, and in the summer holidays we can extend these to children, with gardening, litter picking and dance added in for them (and their families if they want to be included). We have a gardening group, and a ‘knit and natter’ one, meeting weekly, and a monthly afternoon bingo session. As we are fully inclusive, our leaders are happy to coach those with learning difficulties.
At school holiday times we can provide Fun Days, some with grant funding. These include a range of activities for all ages and abilities. We do charge entry fees for all of 3 years and above, but we offer up to £10 of free activities in return. Local small businesses and charities are welcomed to these days to help with their own fund-raising. Santa comes to see us annually and where we can, we offer community meals for those living alone, or those without family nearby to share festive times.
We are entirely volunteer-run, and we have a record of supporting a whole range of residents into permanent work, by building up confidence and responsibility, and offering help with CVs, applications and interview technique.
In due course, we hope to be able to reopen the kitchen for meals service, and extend opening hours.
© Copyright 2026 | Privacy Policy