Chard CommuniTEA Waffle opens its doors to the public

The Chard CommuniTEA Waffle is a free space for everyone. Presenting local groups and services, such as looked after children, the opportunity to meet their families in a safe and private space.

Downstairs of the Chard CommuniTEA Waffle space as you enter the building. (Image: Molly Kirk) As a part of a September 2023 initiative, thought up by a group of Somerset councillors to battle the “loneliness epidemic in Chard”, the CommuniTEA Waffle was born.

This was a project that would be able to apply for a government grant to improve health and wellbeing within the local area.

The team have since used the grant money to fund the refurbishments made and the set-up costs.

Jason Baker, A Chard CommuniTEA Waffle Volunteer, said: “Originally, we were going to provide a talking cafe in the Guildhall once a week. However, after a visit to the waffle house in Axminster we were inspired to think bigger and started to look for an empty premise in the town.”

Enter number 6A Holyrood Street – previously an Art Café, it had been sitting empty for almost a year and was in desperate need of a makeover.

The CommuniTEA Waffle team immediately decided this was the perfect place for them to open a community café without stepping on the toes of other local business owners.

Jason Baker also said: “We decided this was the place for us because it was already a cafe, we would not be introducing a new cafe into the town. Someone would have taken it on and re-opened it.”

Named “waffle” due to its double meaning, the community café is determined to have its own unique identity. Offering something new with its "scrumptious waffles" paired with its founding intentions of encouraging people to “waffle”, as in talk, all the time.

A Chard CommuniTEA Waffle Volunteer said: “An elderly gentleman, who recently lost his wife, said to me that he wanders around in circles around Chard until he finds someone to talk to.

“A mom of four said she can’t afford to take her children anywhere.

“This is why we do it.”

After three months of renovations the café was finally up and running with all the décor either donated, second-hand, or handmade by the Waffle Team.

The café space offers facilities for the needs of all ages, including various seating areas, parking with disabled access, a stair lift, food and drink, a “family room”, charging stations, community bookshelves and the “communiTEA table” which is simply a place where you can sit and have a chat to any of the wonderful trained waffle team – as no one should have to sit alone.

The CommuniTEA Table, located upstairs in the Chard CommuniTEA Waffle. (Image: Molly Kirk) Whilst the café is open 9-4 from Tuesday to Saturday, the café also allows outside groups to use it outside of those hours for meets and events.

Jason Baker added: “Why would you want to lock it up when someone else can benefit from using the space?”

In terms of affiliations, the Chard CommuniTEA Waffle is affiliated with “anyone in need”.

The community café is a CIC (community incorporated company) – meaning all excess money will go to organisations and surrounding villages.

Cllr Mike Best, The Chair of Somerset Council said: “We need more of these things built in or people will drop out of the system. It’s just about realising there are lots of people out there for you.

“This is good. It is somewhere people in the community can go and find someone to talk to.”

If you too wish to volunteer or to help with funding, please speak to the manager Bleu.