Roam Community Cafe - Vauxhall

Aim: Help us raise funds to open a not-for-profit cafe in Vauxhall where people can connect, find support and have space for children to roam.

Help us raise £30,000 to fit out our building with a quality downstairs play space and welcoming ground floor cafe area - a space for connection and support where children can roam free. 

THE STORY OF ROAM 

Anyone raising young children knows there are days when everything feels overwhelming and lonely. For families living in flats, there’s the added stress of trying to keep little feet quiet and toys from flying about - often pushing us outside just to find space.

This was my experience when my youngest was born. I was juggling a newborn and a toddler, desperate for safe places to play. Cold, wet weather and short days made it harder to reach parks and playgroups. I depended on screen-time more than I would have liked, and despite having a supportive community, I experienced postnatal depression and burnout.

We know this story isn't unique -  we've spoken to many families locally who share the same struggles. And so we started to imagine what we could to do change this, and the idea for Roam Community Cafe was born.

A space for everyone

We believe we have found the perfect space in the heart of our community in Vauxhall - a space that has previously been both a pub and a community centre. We are in lease negotiations, with a view to bringing it back to life as a vibrant, welcoming hub for all.

Roam will offer:

• A ground floor cafe that is family-friendly but open to everyone, serving quality, affordable food and drink. This space will be for people to meet, connect, or work - and sales will help to fund affordable and subsidised play sessions. 
• A downstairs play space for under-5s to support child development and give parents a chance to connect, with affordable sessions targeted at residents and subsidised sessions offered through community partnerships for those that need it most. Over time we would love to offer other means of support for families that need it.
• A preloved toy and clothing shop, providing somewhere for families to pass on lightly-used baby equipment, toys and children's clothes, enabling a circular economy which reduces waste, fly-tipping and cost for families.

Pathways to employment

Across these three areas we will provide employability placements for women facing barriers to employment, helping build skills and confidence.

We are committed to creating opportunities for local people who face barriers to employment. Our long-term vision includes a structured placement programme offering hands-on experience across our café, play space, and preloved shop. The goal is to provide meaningful stepping stones into work, supported by mentoring, skill-building, and community connection.

In our first six months of operation, we will work closely with local employment services, training providers, and community partners to co-design the right placement programme for our setting and the people we serve. This development phase will involve:

• Mapping local employment needs and barriers.
• Building referral pathways with trusted organisations.
• Piloting volunteer or taster roles within our café, play, and shop areas.
• Consulting with potential participants to ensure accessibility and impact.

We believe in the value of lived experience and will incorporate participant feedback throughout. The outcome will be a well-designed, inclusive placement model that aligns with Roam's social impact goals and offers real pathways to employment, confidence, and belonging.

We need your help!

We are applying for some grants but there are not many available to not-for-profit start-ups. That's why we are crowdfunding to cover our start-up costs and open our doors. Your support will help cover:

• A quality, custom made play space with a climbing frame, role play areas and safe space for babies
• Cafe equipment and renovations
• Decor and signage to create a welcoming space

Every donation helps bring this much-needed space to life. Thank you for being part of our story! 

About the Roam Team

We are a small team made up of our Founder and Impact Director Charlie, Community Connection champion Tamsin, and soon to be Cafe Manager (and baker of seriously good cakes) Naomi - supported by lots of kind and clever people that have helped us get this far. We've lived in Vauxhall and been part of our local church for seven years, and have come together with a shared Christian faith and love for our community.

We've helped to run the local Little Stars playgroup since 2021, where we've learned a lot about how children play and what parents need, but we are ready to listen to new ideas too.

We are a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), which means we are not-for-profit, so anything we make from trading will go straight back into the business or to grow our community impact. 

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you want to find out more, share your ideas for the space or ask us anything! You can contact us on [email protected].

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th July 2025 at 12:42pm