The Rural Coffee Caravan, the Suffolk charity best known for its fleet of “coffee caravans” which visit the county’s most isolated villages, has opened its first ever office. Charity CEO Ann Osborn explains more
After more than 20 years, Suffolk-charity The Rural Coffee Caravan has opened its first ever office in a perfect rural setting: a converted cart lodge in Walsham le Willows. The Rural Coffee Caravan opened in 2003 to create a social space in rural places where there was often no village hall or other meeting place, shop, pub or public amenities. In a typical year their small fleet of caravans and camper vans visit more than 350 villages, plus dozens of country fairs and other popular rural events.
Thanks to the charity’s countywide network of almost 100 volunteers and its partnerships with many other charities, community groups and support agencies across the region, The Rural Coffee Caravan ensures all those other agencies reach the people most in need of help or specialist advice.
In addition to village visits, now the charity’s services include “MeetUpMondays” in hospitality venues, Coffee And Friends Events (c-a-f-e) network of social events kept in The Coffee Caravan loop, both digitally and by visits from the team, and the “More Than A Shop” initiative that highlights the community and social value of all our village shops and post offices.
The charity’s new office had its official opening on Friday 30th August, with a gathering of supporters enjoying coffee and cake, after the “cutting of the ribbon” by Guest of Honour and landlord, Richard Martineau.
Charity CEO Ann Osborn says: ‘The reason we had to find an office is that I’ll be retiring in a couple of years, and we won’t be able to continue to work from my home. It’s not feasible for all staff to work from home anymore, plus an office is such an advantageous thing to have. The charity has grown to a point where we will have to look at administrative help and we’ll need a place for the team to drop in and do their admin and meet. It’s a connection point for the entire team, and somewhere we can meet other agencies in our own office.
‘We jumped at the chance when Richard Martineau offered us this converted cart lodge renovated for us, on a farmyard in such a lovely village. It’s a small office but perfect for us, and such a luxury. We are so happy not only to have the office, but to have it where it is, surrounded by fields and overlooking a beautiful church. We’ve had a very warm welcome from the people of Walsham le Willows.
‘The team just love calling into the office and we all talk about stuff that’s happened during the week. It’s teambuilding. We spend all our time connecting other people and now, having this office connects us.’
Richard Martineau adds: ‘The fact that the Rural Coffee Caravan charity has opened an office in Walsham le Willows feels as though it is the result of Divine intervention. One morning, several months back. I was at a meeting to discuss what use could be made of the redundant farm buildings in Church Farm that were surrounded by listed buildings. The old farm office was deemed useless.
‘That very evening, I was rung by a friend to ask if I could think of anywhere The Rural Coffee Caravan charity might find an office. I knew the charity and its founder Sally Fogden, who had taken services in our church when we were without a vicar. The fit was perfect! I hope The Rural Coffee Caravan charity will be as happy in their new home as we are to have them.’
For more information about the work of The Rural Coffee Caravan, how to support, donate and its other events and village visits planned throughout 2024, visit ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk.
Featured image: guest of honour Richard Martineau cutting the ribbon of new Rural Coffee Caravan office. Both images supplied
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