Welcome

Totnes Community Development Society is seeking to widen café activities within the buildings it runs, and is wishing to develop and facilitate collaboration between organisations and individuals within the community interested in helping the collective use of these spaces.

Expressions of Interest are sought from organisations and individuals interested in running regular café-based activities and services in the Elmhirst Building and the Mansion.

Needs assessments undertaken by Society shows the importance of food provision, open drop-in inclusive space, and catering training opportunities within the community. This directly meets the Society’s objects around supporting the local economy and education through the regeneration of community buildings. Community education and wellbeing are central to the Charitable object of the Mansion and the vision for the Elmhirst Building, established in partnership with young people through Golden Iris.

Organisations and individuals seeking to develop and run café-based activities and services at the Mansion or the Elmhirst Building are asked to complete this Expression of Interest initially. The café spaces are currently in transition and Totnes Community Development Society is keen to facilitate work with members of the community to develop these spaces and work collaboratively to enable them to be used flexibly and inclusively in the short, medium and long term.

Directors will review all Expressions of Interest and contact individuals and organisations to arrange a visit to space and an initial conversation about their ideas. Directors will then likely seek to gather all those remaining interested following visits to meet with other interested individuals and organisations to consider how they may work together with each other.