While retaining a space for socialising in the evening we want our cafe to be a great meeting place for the neighbourhood. It will offer a warm and welcoming space that is open and accessible to all. We aim to make the cafe the go-to destination for the village, where people can meet others or enjoy a coffee and light refreshments with family and friends. The cafe could be used for regular meetings by local social groups and by support groups that would benefit from a safe space. Based on what the community have told us they would like we will hold events such as Chatty Cafe mornings to reduce loneliness, Knit and Natter groups, arts and crafts sessions, or games afternoons. Existing users of the centre would benefit from being able to stay on after their activity and upgraded resources will provide support to events at The Hub. We will offer volunteering opportunities for those who want to meet others, help the community, or gain work experience to build confidence and self esteem

What we'll deliver:

• Building work to convert the existing bar into a community cafe
• Redecoration to upgrade the existing space
• Install furniture - tables and chairs - to make the space attractive
• Install some Catering equipment so we can provide light refreshments
• New signage to direct potential customers to the cafe
• A cash register
• Pay for facilitators to deliver sessional activities

Why it's a great idea:

We want to reduce loneliness and isolation in the village by providing a welcoming space for all. We feel parents with young children would benefit from a safe meeting place, older people would benefit by being able to meet others, existing users of the community centre would benefit from being able to stay on after their activity. We hope that new friendships will be formed and will inspire greater community connections.

Steps to get it done:

• Take up the existing flooring
• Dismantle the bar area
• Plaster the walls that need rectifying
• Rebuild the bar area
• Decorate the bar area
• Source new or secondhand tables and chairs for the cafe
• Fit new hard flooring
• Fit new signage
• Install new kitchen equipment

Banks has been badly affected by the recent Southport tragedy and we hope that investing in a new facility at the community centre will provide inspiration to build a stronger, more cohesive community.