Getting Open

* UPDATE - 14th February 2007 *

Open letter to potential volunteers:

It is some time since we had the public meeting and you showed some interest in volunteering to work at the cafe.

As a working/management team we have been working hard to get funding etc. We had put a detailed bid in to the Big Lottery which unfortunately we did not get. We now feel the best way to go forward is to set up the cafe quickly, on limited opening hours ,with only volunteer staff to begin with.

The initial idea is to do a limited refurbishment of the room[the county council have allowed us to have sole use of a back room in the youth club building ,we will have our own access by a side door]. Some of this will be done by professional builders, but much will be done by volunteers.

We are planning to open after Easter. We hope to be opening Mon- Fri 3.30pm-9.30pm, with special access for youth club members on Mon & Thurs 7.30pm-9.30pm.

As you can imagine, there is much to be done and we need help with the following:

* Helping with the refurbishment. That will probably take place w/e 10th&11th and w/e 17th&18th march-and possibly during the week in between.

* Working as a general volunteer within the cafe. We will all need to complete an application form that is agreed via the local 'support group' . It may well be that we need to get police checks too, so it would be helpful if you could let me know if you already have a valid one.

* We will be setting up formal and informal teaching skills for computer,so anyone who can offer these skills will be extremely useful.

* Someone who can do any secretarial work would be helpful as I only work on a few fingers, and am only just learning how to use the office programmes.

With the above in mind, there will be a volunteers meeting:

Where: In the cafe { Youth club & Community Education building, School Street }

When:Thursday 1st March @ 6.30pm.

It would be helpful to me if you could let me know prior to the meeting what you are able to volunteer for,and how frequently.

Thanks,

Jan Barker

Company Secretary