Their vibrant space, always full of joy and laughter, is supported by the local community \u2013 interest and support are growing. The local Co-op has assigned its Community Champion to help out; the convenience store donates newspapers and \u2018butteries\u2019 (Aberdeenshire rolls); local caterers donate individual sweet treats; the Rotary club helps with funding, publicity, and transport \u2013 (helping the Church group which provides a free taxi service to make sure everyone can get to the warm space.).<\/p>\n
Individual volunteers from the village also offer support by means of cash donations, soup, home bakes and other contributions, enhancing the regular menus on offer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Going from strength to strength<\/strong><\/p>\n The project started last year, initiated by St Andrew\u2019s Church, and after a slow start began to develop and grow, trying to draw in anyone seeking company, for whatever reason, in a warm space where hot food and fellowship are on offer, free of charge.<\/p>\n It soon became clear that in order to sustain things, and move onward, the best way forward in a small organisation, was to seek partners to share in the enterprise. Consequently, and now under the Warm Welcome Campaign banner, the Caf\u00e9, run by a small team, together with a group of regular, enthusiastic volunteers, is going from strength to strength, with the support of the local Rotary Club, and local businesses \u2013 everyone is happy to step up and help.<\/p>\n A small dedicated team runs things, from funding to all the behind-the scenes tasks necessary to make things happen.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Buzzing with life and celebrations<\/strong><\/p>\n The Friendship Caf\u00e9 is buzzing with life, joy, and celebration \u2013 from Christmas lunches to Burns\u2019 Night and Valentine\u2019s Day \u2013 there-s always something to celebrate.<\/p>\n The Caf\u00e9 makes the effort to remember regulars\u2019 birthdays; one of the team makes a special, personalised card; a birthday cake is supplied, and of course, everyone sings!\u00a0 Last week, two regular guests, who discovered that, at 92, they shared exactly the same birthday (day and year), were duly recognised.<\/p>\n Two visitors to The Friendship Caf\u00e9 enjoy sharing their birthday celebrations together.<\/p><\/div>\n Rural challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes there are difficulties to be overcome. A team member explained, \u201cWe\u2019re based in a small church in a rural setting, and travel can be challenging, especially for older people and anyone with mobility issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Alford winters can be long and harsh and people can feel isolated, especially when roads and pavements are snow-covered and icy. The Caf\u00e9 has a rota of volunteers who assist with transport, to make sure no-one misses out. When anyone is ill, and cannot attend \u2013 a \u2018takeaway\u2019 is offered and delivered, to ensure the connection is not lost.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A warm welcome for everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n The Caf\u00e9 is truly inclusive, in that everyone is welcome \u2013 a group of \u2018regulars\u2019 has emerged, who have now got to know each other and are now friends. A succession of \u2018drop-in\u2019 regulars are drawn in, no doubt by the appetising aromas of hot soups and home bakes on the cold winter air, and most return from time to time.<\/p>\n Local organisations such as the Health Centre, shops and individuals encourage anyone they think might benefit, or be interested in what the Caf\u00e9 has to offer, to try it out.<\/p>\n Everyone receives a warm welcome \u2013 this year\u2019s age range of guests runs from a ten-month old baby to a ninety-four-year-old lady. Although targeted towards helping mental health and rural isolation, everyone comes for their own reasons. One lady, who previously had not left her own home for four years, is now a regular, and is the official soup taster!<\/p>\n The Caf\u00e9 is truly inclusive, in that everyone is welcome.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Blurring lines<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone, guests, and volunteers alike, intermingles \u2013 important in the Friendship Caf\u00e9 vision, is that volunteers sit at tables and chat with everyone, sharing the food and the good company. So much so, that lines between hosts and guests are blurring with many new friendships being formed.\u00a0 One such, perhaps unlikely friendship, is that of a volunteer twenty-year old young man, who is neurodivergent, with a ninety-one-year-old lady who is visually impaired. They sit together every week, catching up with each other\u2019s news.<\/p>\n Some visitors, keen to make a contribution, have become helpers too, in that they provide soups, baking and help in the kitchen, tidying up or just making new guests feel at home.<\/p>\n Board games are on hand, and a copy of the local newspaper, in case anyone is interested, and, because St. Andrew\u2019s Friendship Caf\u00e9 takes place in a church, guests are offered a space for quiet contemplation or prayer if they so wish.<\/p>\n The Friendship Caf\u00e9 brought visitors together over Christmas.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s contribution is valued<\/strong><\/p>\n The Caf\u00e9 is truly a community project with everyone\u2019s contribution valued. A small dedicated team runs things, from funding to all the behind-the scenes tasks necessary to make things happen – regularly supported by volunteers from the church congregation and from main partners Alford Rotary Club.\u00a0 Although the usual rotas are drawn up, in truth, everyone multi-tasks, and mucks in.<\/p>\n It is truly heart-warming to witness the warmth, friendship, mutually caring atmosphere, and laughter which have developed, from a formerly disparate group of people, many of whom live alone.\u00a0 Being Aberdeenshire, much of the conversation is in the native dialect of Doric, and, although there is no direct translation of \u2018Warm Welcome\u2019, guests are bidden to the table in traditional north-eastern way, by \u2018Come awa\u2019 in, si\u2019 doon, an\u2019 tak\u2019 aff yer jaiket.\u2019<\/p>\n At the heart of this project lies love and respect for everyone, and a village partnership in trying to look after each other. The Friendship Caf\u00e9 is thriving – a warm welcome is assured \u2013 everyone loves it \u2013 just read the comments in the\u2019 Friends Book!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Selection of quotes from the Friends\u2019 Book<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rotarygbi.org\/media\/2024\/03\/warm_welcome_space-alford_aberdeen-birthday.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rotarygbi.org\/media\/2024\/03\/warm_welcome_space-alford_aberdeen-christmas.jpg\")