If you think enjoying a classic comfort food like a tomato and cheese toastie or a hearty pie while participating in a creative art activity sounds like an ideal morning, Quantin Binnah (QB) Community Centre’s cafe sounds like the perfect place for you.
Facilitated by Creating Villages, a not for profit organisation that seeks to create inclusive community places, the cafe opened in collaboration with QB and operates on Monday and Tuesday from 8am-2pm.
“We don’t want anyone to come in feeling that they have to buy anything, because that’s not the purpose, the purpose is to provide a space where they can come and sit down and do craft,” Creating Villages manager Bianca Hosemans said.
The cafe serves inexpensive and affordable food options and Bianca says the money earned is reinvested into the program.
“We really promote vulnerable cohorts coming along, so children and families who have a member with a disability, people who may be experiencing financial hardship or mental health concerns,” Bianca said.
“At the moment we’re all volunteers and we have a program where people with a disability can come in and get work experience as well.”
The cafe was introduced to the centre last year, when community development officer Emma Leunig noticed QB had available space that could be used to benefit others.
“I invited Creating Villages to come along and access the space and run their services from here,” Emma said.
“It’s not set up as a generic franchise type cafe but more of a community and social initiative supporting those who are a little bit more less fortunate than ourselves.”
