“When we started, it was just two or three of us with the open doors and a hot urn.”

When the Hope Café opened its doors in 2021, the team at St Gabriel’s in Cricklewood weren’t quite sure what to expect. In the shadow of lockdown, they recognised that there was a need for mid-week community, but what exactly that should look like was unclear. Trusting in God, they built their ministry around two key principles:

  1. Hospitality – From early on, hospitality and welcome were high on the agenda. Today, those who come through the door are invited to join for a cost-free lunch, café style, with tables decorated with cloths and flowers. “It’s to make people feel valued when they come in,” explains Café Manager, Shelley Murray.
  2. Debt Advice – It was quickly recognised that the creation of a warm and welcoming space would support the church’s debt ministry, facilitated in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAP). “Hope Café offers the opportunity for me to invite clients to come here,” comments Debt Coach, Rebecca Bincan. In this community space, the CAP Team support casework, provide money coaching, and signpost to community services.

Through its varied offering, Hope Café strives to be “accessible and open to all.” Resultantly, it has had “a real impact on a number of different people for different reasons,” reflects Revd James Yeates – thinking not only of the café guests, but also the church family. As the café has grown, so too has the Sunday congregation – calling St Gabriel’s to deepen it’s understanding of inclusion in order to widen its welcome.

Soon, the Hope Café will be in its fourth year and church leaders considering a similar ministry can be encouraged by St Gabriel’s experiences. The starting point for the café’s success was simply creating a warm and welcoming space, and opening the doors: “If you’re willing to do that, God will provide the opportunities for you to grow.”

 

Key Numbers:

  • In the last 12 months, over 100 people have received money coaching or debt advice during the Hope Café session.
  • Around 50 people regularly attend the Hope Café – with closer to 100 attending the Christmas special.
  • At least 10 people have joined one of St Gabriel’s Sunday congregations as a result of first connecting with the Hope Café. A number of these now also serve on the café team.
  • The café team estimate that they serve around 6,000 sandwiches a year – and a good amount of home-made soup during the Winter months!

If you would like to learn more about the Hope Café, please see the church’s website, or you can contact Revd James Yeates, incumbent at St Gabriel’s, here.

If you would like to learn more about Christians Against Poverty, you can contact Emma Liberman, Debt Centre Manager at St Gabriel’s, here.

As always, please also feel free to contact the Compassionate Communities team with any feedback or questions.