The street café was launched from the front garden of St Edmunds Church by a bus stop. We aimed to get passers by, travellers on busses and neighbours chatting to each other over a cuppa and light refreshments all provided for free. When we started in November, the cold weather was just setting in and people walking past were bemused about what we were doing. Three months later, we had managed to get regular ‘customers’ from local shops and resident families and gathered information about what residents felt could make the street feel safer and friendlier.
The Print shop across the road from us offered sponsorship and links were made with staff from a local Gurdwara and Mosque interested in working together for the community. We intend to expand the scope of this project in the months ahead to continue building trust and friendships between diverse groups of people.
