A once derelict undercroft in South East London is now a thriving community café, shop and exhibition space providing food and friendship - all thanks to a group of local residents.
The group raised £60,000 through a mixture of fundraising and grants from local organisations, the Mayor’s fund and a Bold Backers initiative in which local residents were encouraged to invest £200 each towards the establishment of the café – which now employs 7 staff.
Stephen Carrick-Davies, one of the team since the start of the project in 2010 says: “If people build something themselves they have a stronger feeling that it is theirs and they are part of the project. Even if you take on a rundown space, by the time you paint it, it already feels like yours and the more time that goes into the space the more ownership will be experienced”. www.hillstation.org.uk
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