Whitby Community Cafe Receives Grant to Aid Summer Opening

Wednesday, 10 May 2023 06:00

By Matthew Pells

A community hub is on track to provide support through the year thanks to a cool grant.

Throughout the winter the Whitby Railway Community Café and Shop offers a welcoming warm space with hot drinks and food for anyone in need.

Volunteers hoped to do the same throughout the summer months but a large south facing window meant it could get very hot inside posing a problem for visitors and shop stock.

Now, following a grant from Broadacres’ Community Development Fund, a large window blind has been fitted, along with the purchase of outdoor seating to provide a cool space for people to meet.

Community Café Director Brian Grief said:

“Food poverty occurs throughout the year and the increased cost of energy not only prevents people turning on their heating in winter, but also using cooling fans in the summer,”

“We offer hot and cold drinks and food and, as important, a place for people to meet and enjoy social interaction.”

The venue, which overlooks Whitby Railway Station, is open every day including an hour on an evening with a community fridge providing free fruit, vegetables, and other goods for people in need. The café provides food and drinks free or for a donation from those who can afford one.
It aims to bring people together and enjoy activities including a book club, sewing and other craft clubs, Age UK and new parent sessions or simply to meet up and have a cup of tea, bit of cake and a chat.

On any given day you can find teenagers playing chess with octogenarians, parent and toddlers enjoying the space, homeless and low income, the local elderly and care home residents sharing a cuppa.

Brian said :

“Last year it became uncomfortably hot inside and also melted the chocolate in the shop, We exist on donations and just couldn’t have afforded to pay for the large blind or the outdoor seating so this grant is very welcome and will be of benefit for many years to come.”

The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents, via a Community Development Fund Panel.

Broadacres resident and Panel member Patrick Lewis-Brown said:

“It’s great to see organisations like this on the eastern side of our operating area applying for funding and we had no hesitation in approving a grant for such a thriving community facility.”

The Community Cafe is currently lookign to recruit more volunteers to help run the facility.

They are looking for volunteers for shifts In the shop and cafe from 9am until 1pm or 1pm until 5pm any week days or Saturdays. In a social media post the team say:

"No experience needed as full training will be given. Just be super enthusiastic, happy and be able to chatter away to anyone!

Roles include serving customers, giving dogs treats, making hot drinks and slicing cake. Super easy and a lovely welcoming environment to work in. "

The cafe team can be contacted via Facebook at