Public meeting to focus on proposed Castletown community café
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
PLANS to establish a café as a community hub in Castletown are about to move forward.
A public meeting is taking place in the Drill Hall on Monday evening and anyone who would be interested in getting involved in the project is welcome to attend.
The community café initiative is being spearheaded by Castletown and Community Free Church. The need for such a facility was among the issues highlighted at a two-day community consultation event in February, run as part of a new 12-month project paid for by the Scottish Government's Aspiring Communities Fund and aimed at identifying inequalities across Caithness.
Minister’s wife Christine Stone, the steering group member with responsibility for publicity, said: "Within the wider community consultation process which took place over two open days earlier this year, our particular focus, as a church, was on creating a community café in the village.
“Our feasibility study for a community café ran alongside the two open days which took place in our current community café area, within our church building.
“The consultation days were well supported and our idea to create a community hub/café received overwhelming support. Many individuals said they would be willing to volunteer their time, bake, organise activities and support it in many practical ways.
“With one of the main issues highlighted being the need for a facility for families, individuals and visitors, the proposed café ticked all the boxes, tying in well with our aspirations to develop a community space where different groups and individuals could meet socially."
Christine explained that potential premises in the village have been identified, although nothing has yet been confirmed.
“Our current community café has grown in number over the last four years, and the folk are now a thriving community of happy people who enjoy each other's company and benefit from the friendship and camaraderie found within this setting," she said.
“Currently our community café meets in the church building, weekly, and we are now pursuing the vision to take this model out into the community as rising numbers are clearly indicative of a need and desire for such an outlet.
“Our next phase includes us holding a public consultation meeting to settle some key issues and to this end we intend to hold a meeting in the Drill Hall at 7pm on April 29. We are hopeful that folk who have previously indicated their support and interest, along with those who were unable to attend the earlier consultations, will come along and contribute positively in moving ahead.
“It's an exciting time for us and we are hopeful that a community café can be established in the village to the benefit of many, serving to bring folk together within a safe, welcoming space."
