A primary school in Torbay is extending the hours of its drop-in centre for local families. Lift Barton Hill have secured a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to develop the community café and hub operating out of St Martin’s Church.
The space next door to the school was originally rented for two hours a week as part of a national initiative to support communities from ‘cradle to career’. Thanks to the lottery windfall, the café and hub can now open for up to six hours every week, giving families a safe, welcoming place to connect with each other and chat informally with school staff.
The funding will also allow extra services to be provided, including a community library, clothes bank, early intervention sessions and training workshops.
School principal Sam Smith said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded a grant to extend our community café. We know our families really value the support and being able to make this two to three mornings a week will provide a vital lifeline for many families.”
Regional education director Karl Sampson added: “Schools are uniquely placed to bring communities together, with the funding for this café showing what is possible when a school becomes a hub for connection, support and opportunity. We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players for enabling support in our community through the café and hub possible.”
Location: Torbay, Devon
