Dalton Street Centre
The centre we run in conjunction with the council, a stone's throw from Highfields in Cathays
May 15th will be our fourth anniversary of working with Cardiff City Council, running the Dalton Street Centre. Over the past year, numbers have been stable in the luncheon club, and there has been a large increase in breakfast sales. Alan Knight and Alison Edwards have taken responsibility for entertainment every Tuesday, with the effect of new faces coming along to the centre. Since January, we have had 9 new customers to the club due to the promotion I have put in place where their first meal is half price.
Tesco has awarded us with a community grant, which unfortunately is not in the form of money, but in decoration. The main hall is being decorated on behalf of Tesco and the work is commencing on 6th May. Assembly member Jenny Rathbone, who on many occasions has called into the centre to talk to our customers and have lunch, nominated the centre for an invite to HRH birthday tea party at Buckingham Palace. She has been very impressed with the work that Highfields Church and members are doing for the elderly of Cardiff. We are pleased to announce that Alison Edwards and myself (Louise Newbury) have received our invitations and will be attending the royal engagement on the 21st May. God has really answered prayers, as this will now give the centre the publicity we have been waiting for. Jenny Rathbone will organise for a story to be published in a local paper, the Cardiff Times free paper, sent out by our local authority and also within her campaign leaflet too.
Doug and Avril Thomas, who have been faithfully serving at the centre for the past 4 years, have now decided that one day a week volunteering at the centre is enough for them. We need at least two volunteers for a Wednesday, between the times of 11am - 1pm, so if you are able to help we’d love to hear from you.
Alan Knight has been very busy donating his spare time, having meetings with doctor surgeries, assembly members and having a stall in local libraries, informing the general public of what the centre has to offer. We, as a team, are very hopeful that this is the way forward in promoting the centre.
We have a tremendous team of workers, both paid and volunteers, and the centre would not be possible to run without them. We have plenty more room for more volunteers, even to pop in and have a drink and a chat with our customers.
Louise Newbury
