A COMMUNITY café, who supports a different local charity each month, welcomed Winchester Bereavement Support to join them and talk about what they do

Wonston Community Café raises money for a different charity each month. In July, the group raised £246 for Winchester Bereavement Support (WBS), a service providing trained bereavement visitors for people dealing with loss.

Rosemary Humpage and Andrea Jacobs (secretary) from the charity attended the July café at The Victoria Hall in Sutton Scotney and spoke to many of the visitors about what they do.

Hampshire Chronicle:

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WBS committee member and cafe visitor Rosemarie Humpage said: "When we were asked to go to Wonston we were delighted because we could further make ourselves known to the local people and talk to those who were there and interested in what we did .

"It was a lovely morning and it raised a large sum of money which we had not expected. It will be put to good use as we have a training course coming in October and it will help to subsidise anyone who might be interested in joining this course to become  a Bereavement visitor. We are celebrating our 40th year this year and we hope to be here for many years to come.

"Every two years we run a training course and we are hoping that this year we will attract enough people to make it it viable."

The café, held on the third Wednesday of every month, was started in October 2015 by local residents with the aim of providing coffee for the local area and supporting various charities.

Janis Kinnell, who helps Margaret Sandford run the café, said: “Following a week of record-breaking temperatures, our July café was held on a pleasantly milder sunny day. Visitors enjoyed their coffee and cakes outside in the sunshine as well as inside in the cool of the hall. This month we had many new visitors from neighbouring Micheldever, as well as the local knitting group.

“We try and choose local smaller charities, often those with a link to our volunteers. We are always happy to consider other requests and do fundraising for national charities as well.

“The community cafe is very popular with locals and others from different groups and villages. We regularly have visitors from a ladies cycling group, the aqua class from Norton Park hotel, friends from South Wonston.”

Due to many of the café volunteers being on holiday in August the Wonston Community Café will resume at the Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney, 9.30am until midday on Wednesday September 21. The community group will then be raising funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

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The RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour rescue service in the UK and Ireland, and seasonal lifeguards look after people on busy beaches. Meanwhile, the RNLI Flood Rescue Team helps those affected by flooding.

The Wonston Community Café is cash only with last orders at 11.45am.

For more go to suttonscotneyvictoriahall.org/mobile/wonstoncafe.asp