Ideas for community wellbeing cafe

[spottybaghottyhag]

I'm starting a wellbeing cafe in a local community centre for women just to drop into. There's a coffee machine, nice herbal teas. Space for a table and I thought to get a nice tablecloth and put some votive candles to give a bit of atmosphere. Many some essential oils in a burner. Any ideas on things to do/have there? It needs to be fairly low cost as this is a free initiative with no funding.

Love your well intentioned idea. However, as I have recently experienced in a volunteer role, be aware that others might not be as charitable or well intentioned as you hope to be. My fear is that you’ll get someone try to undermine your safe space for women and embroil you in a legal quagmire.
I’m hoping others here can give you some constructive advice and support.
Good luck x

If you're storing food on the premises then you're also going to need a vermin control contract. They're not cheap.

Also, OP, how are you going to decide who qualifies for the free food and coffee? Are you going to look people up and down at the door, or what?

I know you mean well, and that is commendable. But I don't think you've thought this through at all.

Please don't get disheartened OP, what you are planning is absolutely doable. There are many, many community centres, church halls etc doing warm space drop in cafes all over the UK. There is some paperwork but it isn't unsurmountable, and you may find the community centre has things like safeguarding policies, insurance, food hygiene in place already.
The only thing I would do differently is open it up to the whole community and not just women.
In my experience, the pay-as-you-feel donations for tea and coffee can be a bit hit and miss, but if you manage to get funding, that should cover your outlay on refreshments so donations are an extra.
I strongly recommend visiting some other, similar set ups in your area and networking with the people who run them and also getting in touch with your council ward officer who can publicise it for you and signpost you to any funding or training opportunities. Networks like Place of Welcome or Renew Wellbeing are invaluable too, in terms of resources, online training webinars and face to face support.
There are likely to be local organisations too that can offer advice on fundraising and applying for grants.

@spottybaghottyhag I really admire you for doing this

I think the main things would be books and possibly some games

But like the others, I'm wondering about the legalities. The only reason I wouldn't try something like this is because there would be an ocean of bureaucracy. At least I'm assuming there is.

I guess if the space is in somewhere like a church, then they'll cover it for you. But I chatted with My local community centre and they can't cover anything.

I would urge you not to have candles as many people don't like the aromas from candles. Also they are a huge fire risk and if children will be visiting they could get burnt then you will get sued by parents. Sorry but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Oh, it's better than that. Candles with table clothes! And burning diffusers! And children running around! What could possibly go wrong.

There's some OTT advice on this thread OP. You do not need a pest control contract. You need to be able to show that you are checking for pests regularly and addressing any issues found. Just keep paperwork detailing your checks and what was found (unless the premises owner already handles that anyway). The FSA has good advice on everything like this.

Thank you for all the suggestions/advice, lots of things to consider.

You could run different hobby sessions, such as a book chat group, scrabble or board game sessions, needlework groups.

They can be quite excluding, though. If OP is looking to suppport the more vulnerable women in the community who might want to drop in.

One of our local commercial cafes runs a Chatty Cafe scheme once a week. If you sit at a certain table, you want to chat (something like that I think).

Also OP, you need to think about how you are going to reach out to the women you want to support. They may be the harder to reach ones.

I ran a CIC which existed solely to provide cooked food to those in need. I tried to register with the council. After a chat on the phone to the EH Officer, he asked me to send him proof of my food safety certificate and public liability insurance. He said he’d trust me to make sure the volunteers had a food safety certificate. I never heard from them again.

I think they’re too busy monitoring actual businesses to be bothered with a group that gives out free cake once or twice a week for a couple of hours.