This summer, Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester is extending the opening hours of its onsite café to include Saturdays and Sundays, in a bid to develop the vital income it provides for hospice care in County Durham.
From 17 July 2021, the Willows Café will be open between 10am – 2.30pm every Saturday, as well as Monday to Friday, to patients, their families and members of the public, for breakfasts, lunches, light snacks, cakes and refreshments. Sunday opening will follow later in the summer. The catering team at the hospice are currently recruiting new volunteers to assist during the weekend service and would love to hear from anyone who would like to help.
The café opened in 2018 in addition to the new in-patient wing which was donated to Willow Burn by local entrepreneur Helen McArdle CBE. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the café has gone from strength-to-strength, welcoming new customers every day. Earlier in the year, the café launched the Willow Burn Coffee Blend with Durham Coffee which has been very popular, and just this week, the café was granted a premises licence allowing staff to serve alcohol with afternoon teas, at dining events and at special social occasions.
Paul Jackson, Chairman of the charity’s board said: “Willow Burn is a beautiful facility, which has been designed to establish us as a community hub, where people are welcomed and encouraged to access the services we provide. As part of this we aim to break down the barriers and misconceptions of what hospice care is, and as such promote living well with illness and helping people to make the most of their lives.
To offer our services to those who need them the most, we have to raise £1.2million each year and only 40% of this is contributed by local government. Over the years we have been humbled by the support we have been shown by people in the community, who time after time, have donated, volunteered, fundraised and so much more. The café is a great way for the community to get behind the hospice, enjoy a nice meal or slice of cake and have an experience in return for their loyalty and support.”
As well, developing the Willows Café, the hospice has beautiful, landscaped gardens, perfect for health and wellness workshops, a large multi-purpose day centre, counselling and treatment rooms, all of which are available for private hire when not in use by the hospice staff.
For further information about Willow Burn Hospice and the Willows Café or to enquire about volunteering in the Willows Café on the new opening days of Saturday and Sunday, please call: 01207 529 224
