National Lottery funding offers lifeline to struggling community café at Newbury Library

A community café has received a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Awards to fund its Parents Village.

Educafe, which recently marked its third anniversary, said this significant boost will allow it to continue running its popular weekly drop-in sessions for young parents over the next year.

Parents Village, which began as a casual meet-up for mums, is now a crucial resource which other state-funded and over-subscribed Early Years services refer parents to.

Parents Village manager Subia Azmat started visiting the section as a new mother herself.

“I knew nobody when I first arrived in Newbury,” she said. “But Educafe’s Parents Village quickly allowed me to make a whole new friendship and community network.

“It helped me to feel supported, informed, settled and happy to be raising my little boy here. I want to help others have the same experience I did.”

Facilitated by Mrs Azmat and her team of DBS-checked volunteers, the free sessions have created a strong network of families and regularly invite qualified experts to offer advice on topics including breastfeeding, nutrition, first aid and weening.

“By supporting mums and parents, Educafe gives our next generation the best start in life,” said Educafe co-founder and director Clare Middleton.

“We are thrilled to receive this National Lottery funding and would like to thank the National Lottery players for this support.

“It comes as a huge relief to over 400 local families who rely on our weekly sessions to stay connected, make new friends and feel supported at this special yet vulnerable time of life.”

The National Lottery Awards, known for supporting community-based projects across the UK, recognised the impact of Parents Village in their funding decision.

Educafe’s Parents Village will re-open on September 11.

But its other projects are still at risk and require urgent funding.

Its drop-in community café and Chatty Corner both provide an inclusive space volunteers, residents and new arrivals can visit every Wednesday at Newbury Library.

All of Educafe’s projects aim to foster social health, wellbeing and reduce isolation, particularly during the current cost-of-Living crisis.

Visit https://www.educafeuk.co.uk/ or contact hello@educafeuk.co.uk for to donate, volunteer or for more information about Parents Village.