One of the 'It Just Works" mission projects of things that are having great impact within the United Reformed Church.

1. CAFÉ ALIVE
• The Setting
Southcote is a mixed estate of ex council properties, new builds, high rise and
emergency housing blocks. There is a mixed age range of occupants from those
who came to the estate when it was first built in the 50’s and have seen their
children leave, young families from other parts of Reading and those new to Britain
never mind Reading. There are few amenities on the estate. It has a library under
threat of closure, a small community centre and three churches; there was a pub
but that is now demolished and replaced by flats.
There used to be a café, run by the Christians on the estate, where people could find
fellowship and advice as well as food and drink, but that was forced to close as the
council wanted the premises back. Then there was nothing!

2. Round and about the estate.

3. More of our neighbours.

4. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Not New
The idea of inviting the local community in for coffee is not new.
Churches are experts at coffee mornings etc. Grange has a
preschool which meets in their building and they had tried to
attract the parents to a mid-week coffee morning with no
success. So what made “Café Alive” work?
Although we were pleased to have the Pre-School using our halls,
it did limit the way we could use our building for mission and
outreach during term time. But the sanctuary was empty most
of the week. Could we use that?

5. • Why did it Work?
On a neighbouring estate, a local church had started an
afterschool café in their church, attracting parents and
children as they passed on their way home from school. We
realised that we were in a similar situation, with a primary
school just round the corner, Pre-School in our halls, a doctors’
surgery opposite us and a secondary school up the hill. But
we were a small church with limited resources – few members
under 70, no children but a relatively modern building.
When the local pub closed down it was discovered that a
covenant had been placed on the land which meant the
council had to use some of the funds raised on its sale to
benefit the community. A meeting was held and the
community asked what the money should be spent on. A café
was high up on the list. There was no way the council could
fund or staff a café, nor could they provide a venue even with
an improved community centre.
After much prayer and discussion, the congregation decided that
they were willing for the building to be used, but we couldn’t
do it on our own. With the backing of the other two churches
on the estate, we started planning.

6. Grange URC – This is us! First we would have
to find out if it were feasible! It would require
finance, space, renovations and volunteers, all
of which were forthcoming

7. Southcote ALIVE
We already had an informal alliance with the other two churches in Southcote, under the
banner ‘Southcote Alive’. We had done many things together such as Good Friday ‘Walks of
Witness’, ‘Carols in the Square’ and other outreach events, and also had Prayer tents and BBQ’s
at Southcote May Fayres. They were happy to join with us, so forming a planning group was
relatively easy.

8. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Grants
Reading Borough Council offered grants called ’Your Community your Cash’ to local estates
for community projects. We applied for one and the café was voted for by a large majority
of Southcote residents at their May Fayre. We also received grants from Springboard, a
charity which gives grants to churches working together on community projects. Other
grants were received from Sovereign Housing, several local churches and a very generous
grant from Wessex Synod, with the offer of a loan if we needed it. We also had coffee
mornings and other fundraising events ourselves.
As the café progressed, we realised more alterations were needed, the first priority being an
accessible toilet. We were really fortunate in getting a Capital Building Works grant of
£10,000 from Reading Borough Council. This was amazing and we were able to get the work
done.

9. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Finding Space
Space was made by selling the organ situated at the back of the sanctuary. Some of the
congregation were not too happy about that, but were somewhat appeased when it was
sold to a Parish Organist from North Denmark. He, his daughter and a friend drove over
here and dismantled it, getting filthy in the process. They then went to our minister’s home
for a shower and a meal, before driving it back to Denmark. He has since sent us emails
showing it reassembled and even hearing it playing!

10. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Working Together

11. To change the
sanctuary into a
café, the church
chairs have to be
moved to the
sides and pushed
together and
tables and chairs
arranged in the
space formed..

12. CAFÉ ALIVE
•Working Together

13. The dais at the
front of the
church is cleared
completely, the
communion
table is moved,
covered over and
then becomes
the site for
bagatelle and
other interesting
games.
The bagatelle
originally
belonged to an
84 year old
church member
when he was a
boy. They love it,
and the top
score of the
afternoon wins a
free cake! Plenty
of other games
are also
provided.

14. When all the
preparation work
is done we stop
for a time of
prayer before
the café doors
are opened and
the sign put out.

15. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Beginnings

16. Initially the café
opened one
afternoon a
week. As well as
café seating and
a safe place for
children to play,
we sell Fairtrade
coffee, speciality
teas, hot
chocolate,
milkshakes, and
squash.
Homemade
cakes are served,
provided by each
church on a rota
basis. As well as
the toys, we do
craft with the
children, based
on different bible
stories.
The old wooden
doors at the
front of the
church were
replaced with
new glass doors
after we had
been open a
while. These
were a godsend
when we had
babies and
toddlers in the
church on
Thursday
mornings as well.
We could keep
the doors closed
to keep them
and the warmth
in, but it still
looked
welcoming from
the outside.

17. CAFÉ ALIVE
• How it works
Almost all volunteers have been endorsed by our three local churches
though one does come from a church from another part of the town. In
order to keep our Christian emphasis we have not sought volunteers from
elsewhere. We have one volunteer as manager who organises the rotas and
content of the children’s work, ensures paper work is done and checks the
stock.

18. We have a team
of about 20
volunteers from
the three
churches, almost
half being from
Grange. They
help to set up
and clear away
at the end, man
the coffee bar,
clear tables and
work with the
children. We
really need a
minimum of 9
each week to
man the café
effectively.

19. Soon we had to
buy more tables
and chairs!

20. We started
initially on
Wednesday
afternoons, but
before a year
was up, the
mums were
asking us to
open on another
morning a week.
We can manage
with less helpers
for that as we
only use the rear
part of the
sanctuary and
don’t do so
much with the
children.

21. On Thursday
mornings we
only did drinks
and biscuits
initially, with a
few cakes left
over from the
day before. Then
we had the idea
of serving toast
as many of the
mums come in
straight from
dropping their
children off at
school. Often
they have not
had time to feed
themselves. It
went down very
well.
We quickly went
from a 2 slice
toaster to a 4
and then a 6,
which was
actually a
commercial
version and
much faster.

22. CAFÉ ALIVE
• “Success”
The Wednesday afternoon Café Alive was a resounding
success straight away, and the children couldn’t wait to get
in there. It gets busier every week! It was made clear right
from the start that it was not a crèche, the parents were
responsible for their own children.

23. We have been
told it is the
‘happening place
to be’ and are
missed over the
summer when
for the health of
our volunteers
we are forced to
close. One very
pregnant young
mum told me it
was her best
afternoon of the
week. She could
sit back and relax
with a cup of
great coffee,
while her sons
played happily
without fighting.

24. They have told
us that they
really appreciate
the kindly willing
service they
receive.

25. We find time to
talk to people
who voluntarily
walk through our
church doors.

26. Thursday morning – a different arrangement of the building, but more geared up to the little
ones. The mums really enjoy their toast and chat!

27. On the till! Within the first year, all loans were repaid.

28. We all muck in together, sharing all the jobs. Most of us did a Food Safety course and exam and
most of us are DBS checked.

29. A group of older people are always the first to arrive and settle themselves in this corner. We
thought at first they were coming when it was quiet and would go when it got noisier. No way!
We have to kindly persuade them to leave when we are trying to clear up!

30. We do craft
activities with a
Bible story
theme for the
children. We
tried stories , but
they didn’t really
want to just sit
down when
coming in
straight from
school. They do
like trying a
helper’s guitar
and sometimes
sing or dance.

31. All are welcome to
try our cakes,
including dogs for
the disabled!

32. We have frames
on each table
that we can
place small
notices in and
are currently
exploring how
we can display
more Christian
posters on the
walls.

33. Playtime after school. The frieze on the wall was done in the craft sessions in the
first term.

34. Cappuccino or Latte? Our baristas at work.

35. .
Thursday morning again. At one point the numbers were rather low and we thought we might
have to discontinue Thursdays. When we mentioned it to the mums they were quite upset.
They all took photos of the whole setup, including the price list and put it out on Facebook! The
numbers picked up straight away, and we’re not talking about closing anymore. We also have a
bereavement support group which meet in the Café on the first Thursday of each month.
We did experiment with music but it didn’t work (too much noise). We are discussing potential
evangelistic events using the café but this is only in its infancy.

36. CAFÉ ALIVE
• Conclusion
I suppose to sum up. The café is ecumenism truly working. It is the Christian community
using its resources to meet a community need. Using its resources in order to serve the
community God has set us in. It’s working together to express our faith through service.
Building up our credibility, forming the relationship with those around us in which we can
share our faith through actions; making the church accessible.
Has it made a difference numerically to our congregation; not yet. Has it made a difference?
Most assuredly! The ease in which the café has come about. The willing volunteers, the
cake suppliers, the numbers coming to the café have given us an assurance that God is at
work. The sense of excitement is palpable. It has brought the three churches closer
together and we have become more of a valued and recognised part of our community;
they know we are there and that our faith matters to us..