Wallasey's Central Park has it's own hidden gem.听 Take a short stroll from the main gates towards the ranger's office and you'll find a picturesque walled garden which features a boules court, grapevine and children's play area. The main attraction is Everyone's Cafe which is run by volunteers from Riverside Day Centre in Birkenhead.听
 | | local community enjoy a cup of tea |
The team welcomes members of the local community every Tuesday, serving hot and cold drinks, biscuits, crisps and snacks and of course, friendly conversation.听 The volunteers, who all have learning disabilities, get the opportunity to put their independent living skills into practice.听 As well as running the kitchen, they organise and take part in activities and look for new ways to generate funds. Andrew says "we keep busy in the cafe taking it in turns to do the dishes and drying up.听 I enjoy myself here, people come and play with the toys in the garden and have a good time."听 Andrew's favourite activity is boules and he enjoys playing the game with visitors. He loves his friends and the two members of staff, that's Tom and Diane. He says they're brilliant! Helen told me "you meet different people everyday and make friends with them. If the community come in, they'll make new friends too. I love playing with the children, it's my dream to come down here, we need people to come in and support us to keep us going and to keep us open."
 | | Lunchtime at Everyone's Cafe |
Jamie is Chair of the volunteers committee. They have a meeting every month when they discuss issues like improving facilities and getting other organisations on board with the project like Sure Start and local schools.听 "I like coming here because it's quiet and peaceful and we all get on with each other." A warm welcome Since the cafe opened the group have had positive feedback from the many visitors who pop in for a cuppa and a chat.听 Sandra Bates brings her nephew to play with the toys.听 "when the weather is bad on the outside, we come inside and the volunteers get the drawing books out and all the coloured pencils.听 The people here can't do enough for us, it's lovely and I hope it goes on for years and years." The Walled Garden provides a safe and comfortable environment for the benefit of everyone who goes there. Why don't you check it out?听 You'll get a warm welcome from all the volunteers and are guaranteed a smile with your cup of tea! The volunteers helped me put together a short film about the Walled Garden and all the goings on at Everyone's Cafe.听 They decided what they wanted to say, chose the locations and helped with the final editing process.听 Their production will be played on the 主播大秀 Screen in Liverpool and be presented to visitors and other service users at Riverside Day Centre.听 It was a busy day, we also managed to record interviews which will be heard on the breakfast programme AND take lots of photographs for a slide show.
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