An Aberdeen church hailed as a “power of good in the community” has raised £250,000 to get its social initiative back up and running.
The Fine Peace Cafe within Sheddocksley Baptist Church will reopen next week after the success of fundraising efforts that began back in October 2018 and a substantial extension.
Volunteer Lynne Fyfe said it had been a “real community initiative” and that while the sums needed were daunting at first it had become an uplifting and hugely heartening project.
“It’s been quite humbling,” she said. “Myself and another girl started with a blank sheet of paper and now we’ve raised this.
“We received a large donation from the council – £40,000 – and and another £20,000 has come from the Robertson Trust.
“The rest has been smaller donations from so many sources – kids selling brownies, dress-down-days at schools and challenging both adults and young people to raise money.
“It’s been a real community initiative and our neighbours, Tesco, have been really good too. Any time we’ve had an event on they’ve provided food.
“The Costa Coffee branch inside of the Tesco has also donated cakes and things for our lunch clubs for the elderly.”
The Fine Peace Cafe is run by a dedicated team of volunteers and supports young people with additional support needs.
Any money raised by the social enterprise goes back into the community.
When it first opened ten years ago, the “small” kitchen available was predominantly for tea and coffee.
Staff soon realised could no longer work in the “shoe box” space, however, and began a fundraising drive for an extension so they could continue their work.
Lib Dem Councillor for the area, Steve Delaney, welcomed the extension and said the money that had been raised was “fantastic”.
He added: “They are a power of good in the community.
“A lot of money from their café goes back into the community and they do a fantastic job supporting local groups. I am really pleased.
“There was a lack of space. The people were doing an excellent job but the facilities were undoubtedly getting a bit dated.”
The official opening will take place on Friday, March 13, between 4.30pm and 6pm, with the cafe then opening to the wider public on Wednesday 18.
Ms Fyfe added: “I’m really excited and the girls are really excited to get it back up and running.
“A lot of our staff have additional support needs and volunteer week in, week out. That routine is important for them to have.
“It is very much a sort of hub within the community.”
