Random Café CIC, dedicated to reducing food waste and promoting sustainability, have benefitted from further enhancements thanks to £9,840 in funding from the council...
The café and shop, which offers food donated by supermarkets that would otherwise go to landfill, also has a community garden, and it has quickly become a popular venue for community initiatives and events. The outdoor space has fruit trees, plants, and produce that is sold on site.
Funding has been utilised to enhance accessibility to the café, benefiting older visitors, wheelchair users, and families with young children. This has been achieved with the installation of a new entrance path to the café, as the old path was uneven and prone to becoming muddy in rainy weather.
In addition to the path improvement, the café has beautified its entrance by laying turf around the path, creating an inviting and aesthetically pleasing environment for users and passersby. Funding has also been used to support the relocation of a water tap used for gardening purposes, which will eliminate the need for hazardous hose crossings.
This recent grant follows a previous award of £7,323 received by Random Cafe CIC last year for garden accessibility and sustainability enhancements. These improvements included levelling and compacting paths to accommodate wheelchair users and families with buggies, as well as the creation of a patio area for community enjoyment. Additionally, the installation of solar panels on the café's port-a-cabin has contributed to reduced power usage and increased environmental sustainability.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “The café and shop not only rescues food from going to waste but also acts as a vibrant community hub, hosting social events that bring people together. Similarly, the community garden serves as a popular green space for residents to gather, learn about sustainability, and combat food waste. With Random Café’s recent funding, it will only further enhance accessibility, ensuring a positive impact on both the local community and environment.”
Founder of Random Café, Jane Johnson, said: “These improvements are part of the café's ongoing plans to improve the site, increase its accessibility and make Random Café as welcoming as possible for people across Watford. Each visitor that buys food from the café and/or shop is helping to reduce Watford's carbon emissions by reducing food waste, since 2017 the café has saved over 104 tonnes of food.
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant is now open. To find out more, including this year’s projects, please visit www.watford.gov.uk/community. The programme funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from developers of new housing, operates annually to mitigate the effects of development and enhance the local community's sustainable growth.
