The church is home to the Coffee Pot Memory Cafe – a cafe supporting and providing a safe space for people with dementia, run by volunteers from the church. The group has just been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS). The KAVS is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups in the UK, and is the highest award attainable. They are awarded for life to celebrate the outstanding work of local volunteer groups.
n:spire members Gabby and Jessie enjoy volunteering at the cafe, especially at the recent Christmas Elf party! Over 120 people enjoyed afternoon tea and entertainment at the event, including Dame Andrea Jenkins MP. At a celebration service for the award, Gabby made and decorated three large cakes for the congregation to enjoy.
There is no doubt that the rewards of volunteering are evident in the group, as Gabby and Jessie have also been hard at work raising money for a volunteering trip to Kenya in July, where they work with and support the Memusi Foundation. They’ve raised over £400 for their trip so far by holding a Christmas coffee evening at the group.
The group also received recognition for their work when they were chosen as the local Co-Op Community Fund cause. This has resulted in them receiving a donation of over £1600 for their group.
Somewhere in all of the hard work volunteering, the group managed to squeeze in a Christmas party and a visit from Father Christmas!