Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford (FOVPS) urgently needs to raise £10,000 in January to keep the community building & café in Victoria Park open during the winter months.

The café is more than a place to buy a drink. It is a warm, welcoming hub for park users, families, older residents, volunteers and people who would otherwise be isolated during winter.

Without emergency support, the café faces temporary closure, which would remove a vital community service at the time it is most needed.

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Why the £10,000 is needed now

January is the most challenging month of the year for the café:

1. Footfall is lower due to weather and shorter days

2. Energy, staffing and supply costs remain high

3. Income alone cannot cover essential operating costs

The £10,000 will bridge the winter gap, allowing the café to remain open while longer-term income stabilises in spring.

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What £10,000 will deliver

This emergency funding will:

1. Keep the café open and staffed throughout January

2. Cover essential energy, staffing and supply costs

3. Provide a warm, safe space & toilets open for park users in winter

4. Support volunteers and community groups who rely on the café

5. Prevent loss of momentum, trust and footfall built over the year

Every week the café stays open protects both community wellbeing and the café’s long-term sustainability.

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Who benefits

1. Older residents seeking warmth and social contact

2. Parents and carers visiting the park with children

3. Volunteers and community groups meeting in the park

4. Walkers, runners and regular park users

5. People experiencing loneliness during winter

The café plays a quiet but crucial role in reducing isolation, supporting mental wellbeing and keeping Victoria Park welcoming year-round.

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Why FOVPS

FOVPS is a trusted, volunteer-led organisation with a strong track record of delivering community activity in Victoria Park. We work closely with Trafford Council, local partners and residents to ensure the park remains safe, inclusive and well used.

This is a short-term emergency ask with a clear outcome: keeping the café open.

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What happens if we don’t raise the funds

Without this £10,000:

1. The café may be forced to close temporarily in January

2. Vulnerable park users lose a vital warm space

3. Community activity in the park is reduced

4. Restarting later becomes harder and more costly

A short closure risks long-term damage.

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How you can help

You can help keep the café open by:

1. Making a one-off donation

2. Providing sponsorship or match funding

3. Supporting the café as a local business or organisation

4. Sharing this appeal with others who care about Victoria Park

£10,000 keeps the doors open. Every contribution counts.

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Together, we can keep the Victoria Park Café open when it matters most.

Thank you for supporting Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford.

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