Bridging the Gap at Monkey Park

Monkey Park is a much-loved and thriving community owned hub in Chesterfield. For nearly nine years we have gathered people from across Chesterfield to support each other, eat in our affordable cafe and access volunteer led community services. 

Recently our community cafe had to close because our partner charity no longer had the resources to staff it. When the café closed, we started running events and groups to ask our community what was most needed now in our area.

People have responded to explain that the cost of living crisis is now pushing many households to their limits. For people on their own this becomes worse, as they sometimes have no-one who they can turn for support. Loneliness makes life even more difficult for some people.

Our leadership committee have decided to reopen the cafe as a place for local people to have a healthy meal for cost of a donation. There will be a food pantry at Monkey Park which will provide affordable access to surplus / unwanted food for the community.

 We are looking forward to people popping in all day to gather, support each other and use the Internet. There will be hot food prepared by volunteers and served at mealtimes in large stockpots. The objective is for everyone to eat with their neighbours, continuing the process of community building and creating sociable mealtimes.

We need help to set up and make this project happen. Can you help Monkey Park by making a donation? Things that we need to fund include:
- fitting out the old bike workshop as a food-safe space
 - buying equipment for batch cooking, storage & safe serving of hot meals

Thank you for your support