After a few month’s since TLC’s closure on Hovingham Avenue, all the work that’s been going on under the surface, ready for its’ rebirth in the spring, we felt excited to announce our new plans.
But we’re not quite ready yet. I don’t want to jinx anything.
As those who have kept up with the story so far, we moved out of the premises on Hovingham Avenue in October last year. The reason for this was that CATCH (the youth centre) and TLC had each grown too big to share the space, so we made the bold decision to vacate and find an independent, bigger space to grow into.
Since then, the core team have been working hard on this website, our new business plan, finding the perfect property, and fundraising.
We have found a great location, and we are in (standard) negotiations over the lease with the landlord. All things being equal, we hope to complete and sign within the next few weeks.
We are fortunate to have amazing support from professional property people in helping imagine and plan the property’s conversion into a cafe, and it’s really exciting that, over two floors and possibly a third, we can have a fully functioning cafe with all the values and ethos we previously had, and the extra space to invite other groups or organisations to utilise for their own projects and community building activities.
We have already secured £10k from Awards for All towards the refurbishment project (thank you Awards for All!), and are waiting to hear back from other funding proposals we have submitted.
If you are reading this and are able to support us financially, please consider making a donation, or buying a travel mug (or two!) from us, via this website.
If you own, or are involved in, or know of any local businesses who would be interested in supporting us, perhaps you might share this blog; we will be putting together a corporate sponsorship package, on the lines of a regular donation towards our expenses, and opportunity for team away days to help out in the cafe, or paint walls etc. Please pass on my email anna@toastlovecoffee.co.uk to any interested parties!