Access - Corner Cafe

Aim

To make our community café accessible with wheelchair access to all areas and improve seating and flooring for those who are less mobile

HOW DID IT ALL START?

Cottingley Community Centre started 11 years ago, there was a vision to create an area in the middle of Cottingley that was a space for the Community. The complex contains the Community Centre with various rooms, offices, a Church, a day centre, respite centre, medical centre and was surrounded by a development of much needed affordable housing. We are a very busy centre with lots of different activities for all ages.  More information about the centre can be found on our website - click here for a look.  

WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?

One of the biggest issues in Cottingley is loneliness and isolation.  We have a lot of older people who are living on their own and single or stay at home parents, all of whom would sometimes go days without talking to anyone else and would struggle to prepare a hot meal on a daily basis.  

We wanted to create a place where you will always find a friend.  In 2018, we launched Corner Cafe - our community Cafe, it is open weekdays 9:30am-2pm and open to anyone, not just those that come to the community centre for the groups and classes.  We offer homemade cake, freshly ground coffee and homemade freshly cooked meals at as low a price as we can possibly manage.  

HOW DO WE DO IT?

We have the amazing Sam who works in the kitchen to make sure all the food is prepared properly and we are supported by volunteers who work on the counter or help with washing up.   During term time we love working with Bradford College, Beechcliffe School and Hazelbeck School who each come one day a week with a group of sixth form students with additional needs and they 'take over' the cafe for the day.  Sam stays on hand to make sure students know what they are doing while they prepare the food, serve the customers and keep the place clean and tidy.  It is such a joy working with these students and we have seen them grow in skills and confidence throughout their time working with us.  

WHY DO WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT?

Not all of the students can be involved and we don't think its fair.  Just because you use a wheelchair or other mobility aids you shouldn't be denied the same great opportunities in life that others get.  We've also got a lot of elderly people who struggle to move the chairs on the carpeted floor and without arms on the chairs they struggle to stand up without help.   We want to give the cafe a revamp so that it is much more accessible to everyone by changing the serving counter so there is more space and lower part of it so it could be used by someone who uses a wheelchair.  We also want to take down a partition wall that makes moving around the cafe area difficult, add non-slip easy clean flooring.  If we manage to raise enough money we want to supply some new chairs so that those who are less steady on their feet find it easier to move them around and to get up from.  With your support and these simple changes we can make this welcoming and amazing hub of the community even better.  

This project successfully funded on 21st April 2020