News / Community Business
Raising the dough: How one cafe has an award-winning recipe for community impact
In the heart of Speedwell, nestled between the rugby ground and Bristol Brunel Academy, lies a gem of a cafe that not only serves up delightful treats but also pours every penny comes in back into the community.
The Barton Hill Rugby Football Club Charity Cafe, which opens its doors twice a week, has recently been honoured with the prestigious BBC Radio Bristol Make A Difference Community Group Award for its dedication to community welfare.
Run entirely by a team of 15 volunteers, this bustling cafe has become a haven for locals seeking more than just a cup of coffee. The cafe, located on Duncombe Lane, is a welcoming space that provides more than just food and drinks—it offers a sense of community, camaraderie, and support for those in need.
is needed now More than ever
When Bristol24/7 went to meet the team behind the award-winning café, they were still in disbelief of the award.
Category judge and Radio Bristol new breakfast show presenter Joe Sims reserved the highest praise for them, saying: “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Bristolian and share the dodgems with the lot of you, cause you’re absolute beauties.”
Mandy Bryant from Barton Hill Charity Cafe – photo: Milan Perera
Opened in February 2020, a month before the lockdown, the cafe still kept its core community connected through video calls and Facebook Messenger group during the pandemic.
People can buy a hot meal of choice, a cake and a coffee for £3.50. If someone prefers just a cuppa, it is 50p.
Each time, the cafe is working towards a designated cause. For example, the charity cafe raised £5,000 towards Leo’s bespoke chair and £5,010 towards an electric wheelchair for Izzy.
Community Project Award at the BBC Radio Bristol Make A Difference Awards – photo: Milan Perera
Over the years, they have raised around £75,000, with every penny accounted for in various charitable causes. So far, they have helped 17 children at Bristol Children’s Hospital and bought a special chair for its baby ward.
They always have a target for a particular item that will improve someone’s quality of life and provide a degree of independence.
Furthermore, Barton Hill Charity Cafe raised more than £8500 for mental health charities Mind and Looseheadz and donated over £1800 towards defibrillators and bleed kits.
Mandy Bryant is a member of the core group responsible for food preparation and planning. But she reiterated that it is a collective effort of the entire group.
Volunteer Shirley Martin with the cafe regular Pamela Chivers – photo: Milan Perera
The core group of volunteers consists of Mandy Bryant, her sister Nikki, partner Denis and the best friend Elizabeth Harris.
Volunteers of all ages are involved in the work. Their stories vastly vary but the common thread which connects them all is the desire to help the community in the best way they can.
Mandy said: “There’s always a warm welcome for anyone who walks through these doors. The cafe is run with the efforts all the volunteers – no one is paid or claims expenses. Whatever cash we raise at the till goes straight in the pot. This is a space you can feel welcome and accepted.”
The building firm BAM Construction has donated kitchen equipments, while Greggs has been contributing with food items on a regular basis. The Barton Hill Charity Cafe has also signed up to the FareShare scheme which allows them to redistributes surplus food from supermarkets and producers.
As the Barton Hill Charity Cafe continues to thrive, it remains a shining example of how a small initiative, fuelled by goodwill and resolve, can make a monumental impact on a community. With every cup of coffee served and every meal shared, this volunteer-driven cafe proves that even the smallest contributions can create ripples of change.
Main photo: Milan Perera
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