There is demand for a non-specific community facility available

What we'll deliver:

• Establish a community cafe
• Establish a community garden and vegetable patch
• Provide a safe, inviting meeting space where people can connect and share ideas and experiences
• Provide additional space for hire by community groups/clubs/businesses/private individuals

Why it's a great idea:

Hightown is a small, semi-rural community on the Sefton coast. We are characterised by several key challenges, firstly a high proportion of elderly residents suffering a range of different forms of isolation and/or health and quality of life issues, and second we are geographically isolated and suffer poor transport links (limited minibus service to Crosby and Blundellsands, a single main road in and out of the village, and although on Merseyrail's Northern Line, the station is located right at the north end of the village, and the village is also cut in half by the railway track such that a significant number of residents struggle to cross from one side to another). Meeting spaces for socialising are similarly limited, and too narrow in focus for many people, defined by e.g. a sports club, sailing club, or simply not what people really want, e.g. pub that many residents simply won't use. A general community resource is needed that is accessible, non-partisan, cheap, and flexible.

Steps to get it done:

• Re-fitting kitchen
• Completing food hygiene training
• Completing food hygiene inspection with Sefton Council
• Sorting menus and price lists for cafe
• Digging and planting growing beds for garden
• Building raised beds for planting
• Buying plants for garden
• Setting up a composting area
• Buying and putting up hanging baskets
• Formal launch & opening to the public of community cafe and garden