On Wednesday 6th June at 6:45pm, in an awful accident a car smashed into the front wall of Emmeline during rush hour. Miraculously nobody on the street was hurt and the driver was taken to hospital and is said to be doing well. However, due the structural damage to the front of the shop Shona and the guys are unable to open for an indefinite amount of time.

The hope is that in time the insurance company will cover the cost of repairs and possibly a loss of trade. However, as much as insurance companies are largely a helpful bunch that want to pay out as quickly and easily as possible (!), the reality is that this is likely to drag on for a while, and at the time of writing there has been no further clarity on when and to what level the repairs will be taking place.

Emmeline is a small, independent business that has firmly established itself as an integral part of the community. Making the business work is tough enough under normal conditions, but this unfortunate incident has caused an extreme amount of stress and uncertainty about whether they will be able to survive, and Shona and the guys there have had their livelihoods abruptly taken away as a result of something that they have absolutely no influence over.

What we are proposing is that, if you've ever had good service in there, enjoyed a sandwich, smoothie or a coffee, or just enjoyed sitting in the shop for a chat, you can show your appreciation by leaving them a tip on here. This can be for service you have received, or for service you look forward to receiving in the future, but if everyone who has enjoyed the lovely environment Shona and the team have created over the last year or so shows their appreciation by 'tipping' them a few quid, it might help to alleviate any immediate financial concerns they might have, as well as letting them know the community is rallying behind them, and it may help to make better an unfortunate and dispiriting situation.

£4000 is roughly a month's worth of overheads for the shop to operate, so if we can collectively help them through the next few weeks, hopefully things will start to be resolved and they can re-open and start trading again.

Tip whatever you are able or feel is appropriate, and feel free to offer messages of support, as at the moment they could really do with a bit of love!

Cheers

Friends of Emmeline

xx