‘Pay what you can afford’ cafe opens in Shoreham

Teaming up with FareShare, Adur Community Café offers a hot meal and pudding on Sundays, to help feed people in Adur affected by food poverty.

The cafe has opened at St Julian’s Hall, in Rectory Road, and the ten volunteers involved are in the process of setting up a community interest company, with all profits reinvested to pay for equipment and supplies.

Catherine Arnold, founder, said: “The café and takeaway were formed because of the huge increase in food poverty nationally and locally. Of late, this increase comes from Covid-related redundancies.

“We know people of all ages in our community are going hungry but some are often too proud to share this. We didn’t want money to get in the way of a basic need, hence the ‘pay what you can afford’ model.”

The café has launched with a takeaway service, open 4pm to 5pm every Sunday, and this is operating with the support of Father James Grant, rector of Old Shoreham and Kingston Buci.

He said: “It’s a privilege to be in a position to support Adur Community Café, a much-needed service for the area in these times. I hope that it will become a focal point of the community and a place of meeting and walking the journey of life together for a little bit.”

It is hoped the café will help people affected by redundancies, those self-isolating with little support locally and families impacted by increased food budget spend and rising food prices.

Catherine said: “The long-term aim is to create a sit-down eating experience, with an offer of intergenerational relationship building, inspirational talks, music and even ping-pong games.”

Wates Residential, the construction team carrying out the flood defence programme at Free Wharf, has joined with labour agency PSR Solutions to donate £500 for a fridge, freezer and other essential equipment, plus a package of employment sessions at the café, to support the construction industry ahead of a future waterfront development of 540 new homes.

Lee Bushell, operations director for Wates Residential, said: “Through our support to local charities and organisations like the Adur Community Café, we are proud to be creating opportunities for the local community to come together, seek support and connect with one another during a time where many may be struggling financially or suffering from the effects of social isolation.

“We are committed to leaving a positive lasting legacy for the people of Shoreham through our presence on the Free Wharf site and look forward to continuing to build long-term partnerships with local organisations, such as Adur Community Café, which deliver such valuable work.”

All food is donated by FareShare, an organisation that redistributes surplus food to charities to turn into meals. The menu is published on the Adur Community Cafe Facebook page on Saturday at 10.30am and takeaway meals can be ordered over the phone on 07966963855 or in person during operating hours on a Sunday. Payment is by cash only.

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