November 2010

What is the project for?Turning this….

Into this!

The station buildings on Platform 1 at Yatton Railway Station

Who’s running the project?

• 4 directors, working in a voluntary capacity, are responsible for running the project

• A Café Manager (Simon Coles) will run the café on a day-to-day basis

• Profits are ‘locked in’, to be used for the benefit of the project – this status allows the company to carry out trade

Strawberry Line Café Project Community Interest Company

How will it benefit Yatton?

• A community café and meeting place, filling a gap in the North of the village

• Bringing back into use an important and historic building

• An added attraction to the Strawberry Line, in a perfect position at the start of the route

• A much-needed facility for railway users, providing refreshments and a comfortable waiting area including free wi-fi

• Employment and training opportunities for local people, including those with learning difficulties

Where has the money come from so far?

• SW Regional Development Agency

• Local organisations, including Woodspring Masonic Lodge, Millennium Oak Trust, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, Yatton Parish Council, Yeo Valley Lions

• Railway Heritage Trust

• Fundraising, including coffee mornings, raffles, sponsored bike rides, steam evenings, and much more....

• Department for Transport ‘Access For All’ fund

What’s happening now?

• Building /restoration work is almost complete

• Simon Coles, our Café Manager, has started work

• We will soon recruit kitchen assistants - voluntary, paid, and with learning disabilities

• We’re planning to open for business by early December

• (with an ‘official’ opening in the New Year...)

What will the cafe be like?

• It will be different at different times:

• before 9, probably full of rail passengers grabbing a coffee

• later in the morning, a relaxing place to spend an hour

• at weekends, a place to get a tea and cake at the end of a cycle ride or walk – or just shelter from the rain

What will the café serve?

• We are committed to sourcing local and fair trade produce where possible

• Where feasible we want to use organic ingredients

• Much of the food will be homemade, including, cakes, soups, and light meals

• It will serve great coffee!

• The aim is to provide excellent quality at reasonable prices

When will the cafe be open?

• On weekdays the café will be open from 7 am to 2.30 pm

• Until the Spring the café will also be open from 11am to 3 pm on Saturdays

• We plan to open on Saturdays and Sundays in the Spring and for longer hours – we will certainly be open when the steam trains come through on Sunday mornings!

Will further staff be recruited?

• We will shortly be advertising a catering apprenticeship at the café

• Keep an eye out on our web-site for any vacancies...

How will adults with learning disabilities be involved?

• We will recruit for a part-time paid position when the café opens for someone with learning disabilities

• We hope to offer an apprenticeship position shortly after the café opens if funding is available

• We will act as ‘welcome host’ to the Brandon Trust to enable them to use the café to train people with learning difficulties in food preparation and hygiene

• As funding becomes available, through grants, association with other organisations such as the Brandon Trust, fund raising and hopefully profits generated by the café, we will develop and expand the training and employment opportunities we offer

What’s the idea of the ‘Friends of the Strawberry Line Cafe’?

• An informal group of interested people, informing and assisting the Directors in the development of the café

• They would work out a structure and decide what they can do to support the project

• They may take the lead in developing the next phase of the project, for example offering cycle hire facilities

• They could decide whether to take on specific funding projects, for example the landscaping of the garden area.

How could the ‘Friends’ support the project?

• Market the café – use it yourself and encourage your friends to come in

• Fundraise for the ongoing development of the project – including for example the garden outside the café, and helping fulfil the next stage of the project, to provide more opportunities for people with learning difficulties to train and work at the cafe

• Advise on the café’s progress and development

• Help organise events for specific groups, e.g. when the steam train comes through, or for walking or cycling groups using the Strawberry Line

• We are looking for a handyman to help with small tasks at the project as they come up

• Organise social events, particularly to include adults with learning disabilities

Or if I want to support the cafe in other ways?

• Let us know if you’ve got a suggestion, or can get involved – maybe you have skills we need

• Go on our supporters mailing list for regular news and requests for help – just email info@strawberrylinecafe.co.uk

• Donate – you can donate directly on our website, or by cheque

And finally.....

• The café would never have got to this stage without the support of many, many, people and organisations who have helped in all kinds of different ways – some are listed on our website, but there are loads more!

• We’d like to thank them all, and ask for your support in getting to the next stage….

Community Interest Company No. 6735733Patron – Dr. Liam Fox MP

Web http://www.strawberrylinecafe.co.ukEmail info@strawberrylinecafe.co.uk

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/strawberrylinecafeTwitter @StrawbLineCafe