A leading charity is serving up a tasty treat by opening its first coffee shop.
Café 98 will be part of the new East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store in Station Road, Wroxham.
Drinks, cakes, bakes and paninis will be on the menu, and profits will directly help fund vital care and support for children and families across the region.
The first customers will be served when the shop is officially opened at 10am on Thursday, 5th December.
“Having a coffee shop alongside our traditional charity offering is something we’ve been discussing for a couple of years, so for this to be nearing fruition is incredibly exciting,” said EACH’s Director of Retail, Ian Nicolson.
“It’s a milestone moment, a new opportunity for revenue and something we hope our customers thoroughly enjoy.
“We strive to be the most loved community shop and pride ourselves on providing a great shopping experience.
“Now, after picking up some bargains, customers can sit back and enjoy a nice hot drink and slice of cake. What could be better than that?”
Café 98 refers to the year Quidenham Children’s Hospice merged with Milton Children’s Hospice, near Cambridge, to become East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.
The new shop and café, previously a branch of Barclays, will become EACH’s 52nd retail unit across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.
“We took a lot of time to make sure we found the right location, and this particular spot, which is big and spacious, feels a great, natural fit,” added Ian.
“Wroxham is ideal because it’s a busy, vibrant market town, a growing residential area and a popular place for holidaymakers and day-trippers, right in the heart of the beautiful Norfolk Broads.
“We’re thrilled, and it’s a big, exciting step forward, not to mention a great opportunity for volunteers to get involved – supporting us either in the shop or by helping in the café.
“There are lots of opportunities to be part of something new and exciting, and we’d be delighted to hear from anyone interested in getting involved.”
EACH has three hospices, including The Nook, in Framingham Earl.
The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone, it needs to raise £7.5 million from donations and fundraising activities and £8.7 million in retail income. Only 15% of its income comes from the government, county councils and the NHS.
To find out more about volunteering, visit each.org.uk/volunteering, email volunteering@each.org.uk or call 01223 205183 (option four).
Colleagues Michelle Cottingham, Georgie Futter, Naomi Munro, Tam Marks and Debbie Allen are pictured outside EACH’s new shop and café in Wroxham
