A community café offering Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend people a place to meet, eat, and socialise is able to expand after securing just over £13,000 of funding from Pennant Walters, which has been used to boost its kitchen equipment.
Café 39, which runs out of its base on Cambrian Avenue, has been able to purchase and install a top of the range catering oven and dishwasher and is now looking forward to expanding its menu offering.
The funding was secured from the Pennant Walters community fund which is linked to the construction of the new, but standalone, Pant y Wal Wind Extension Farm, adjacent to Ogwr Valley.
The café, which has been operating from the centre for the past 17 years, is owned by Gilfach Goch Community Association but run by Vicky Smith, its proprietor.
Richard Walters, Operational Manager for Gilfach Goch Community Association, explains:
“The community centre, from where the café runs, is fantastic and offers so much. We see a footfall of over 5,000 people each month through the doors and the café has established itself as a great community hub.
“With kitchen equipment that has been in situ for many years, it was getting to a point where we needed to invest and expand on what we had to take us into the next chapter. I contacted Pennant Walters, which runs a fund that is making such a positive difference to community organisations across the area, and we were thrilled when they said they were happy to help.”
Now that the equipment is in place, Café 39 is looking forward to putting new dishes on the menu, whilst the dishwasher is helping them keep on top of the ever increasing number of visitors.
Richard continued:
“This funding has been fantastic. Catering equipment is hugely expensive but without it, it’s hard to cater for the numbers we see through the doors. It’s going to make such a difference to Vicky and the volunteers that assist in running the café. On behalf of everyone who comes through the doors, I’d like to thank Pennant Walters for its support.”
Pennant Walters Managing Director, Dale Hart, said:
“Café 39 has become a community hub for residents of Gilfach Goch and further afield and we are delighted that this funding will help them long into the future.
"Our wind energy project community funds exist to make a difference to the local communities in which we work, and it’s clear to see the positive impact this funding will have for the coming years.
“I’m delighted that Gilfach Goch Community Association has wasted no time in purchasing the equipment and I can’t wait to sample the new menu!”
Café 39 proprietor Vicky Smith