Behind the scenes at Café Connect
Café Connect is a community hub in the heart of Bedford, run by bpha Community Engagement Officer, Fsella Afzal-Pagliari, and a small but mighty army of volunteers.
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“This is what we do, we help other people.”
Atiya
The volunteers are a mix of customers and members of the community and are invaluable, helping with a variety of tasks such as set up and pack down, signing in attendees, cooking and kitchen duties and activities such as the craft table. The hub really couldn’t happen without them.
But why do they volunteer their time and energy?
Atiya, a local mum who homeschools her children, said she initially started because she moved to the area and wanted to integrate into the community. She has an art degree and teaches a homeschool group, so it made sense to run the art table at Café Connect, setting up and teaching a variety of crafts and activities. Originally, her children would come and support her, but as time went on, they found themselves getting more involved too – as Atiya puts it:
“This is what we do, we help other people.”
Atiya
Marwa, Atiya’s daughter, is one of the younger volunteers. At first, she was often asked why she wasn’t in school but now everyone understands that she and her siblings are home-schooled, and they fit right into the team. They help set up the chairs and tables, and have run craft sessions with their mum too. Atiya was offered a job at The Higgins museum delivering workshops for children over the summer and hopes this will build her confidence in running her own workshops one day. Marwa’s favourite part of the session is seeing the community coming together. “When it's really busy in the middle of the session, I'll just go to the side and look at everyone. And they'll all be enjoying the food, at the activity tables and everything. Sitting down, talking to each other. And that’s really nice. It’s nice to know that I helped set it up for them.”
Marwa isn’t the only volunteer who finds joy in bringing people together. Across the team, many volunteers have found their own way to contribute, sharing their skills and building connections with people from different backgrounds. Theresa jokes that she comes for the food, but in reality, loves mixing with all the different cultures and enjoys helping people. You can often find her at the crafts table, where people can come and try new things. She’s a painter who looks forward to sharing her skills each session and learning new ones from the other volunteers too:
“It is a lovely feeling when you go from here because everybody is smiling.”
Marwa
Theresa
That willingness to share skills and learn from one another is something that runs throughout the project. Whether they're helping in the craft room or the kitchen, volunteers not only support the community but also gain new experiences and opportunities themselves. Aliya’s favourite part is the teamwork of preparing a meal for everyone. “The people who come truly appreciate and enjoy the food – it’s a wonderful experience!”. The kitchen volunteers have been given the opportunity to take food hygiene courses. Aliya has also completed a First Aid course which means she’s now confident in how to use the defibrillator outside the hub. But the unexpectedly positive course was a cycling skills one. A few of the volunteers were nervous at first, but after being encouraged and seeing their peers have a go, jumped in.
For many volunteers, the benefits extend far beyond the practical skills they gain. The hub has become a place where people build confidence, form friendships and find a renewed sense of purpose through supporting others in their community. Louise is a parent carer and was in between jobs when she met Fsella. She was finding it difficult to find work that fit around her family’s needs and was starting to feel a bit isolated. She now volunteers on the welcome desk, signing in those who attend the hub and loves being a part of something that helps so many within the community. She recalled a time when someone came in who was going through grief. She was able to direct them to the partner organisation, Sue Ryder, and when the attendee left, they looked visibly lighter.
Aliya
Louise
Stories like Louise's reflect the impact Café Connect has, not only on those who attend but also on the volunteers who make it possible. Whether they're preparing meals, sharing creative skills, learning something new or simply offering a warm welcome, volunteers are helping to build a stronger, more connected community while gaining confidence, friendships and opportunities themselves.
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at Café Connect, or another one of our Hubs, please visit our website by clicking the button below. Café Connect is open every other Wednesday during term time, from 12:15pm to 2:15pm at Queens Park Community Centre, 52 Marlborough Road, Bedford, MK40 4LF.