Sheffield campaign to save park cafe hits key fundraising target
The money raised will help to unlock grant bids from funding bodies for the £2 million total restoration cost
Community campaigners who fought to save a Sheffield park cafe have now hit a fundraising target for restoration work.
Campaigners went into action when the Rose Garden Cafe in Graves Park was threatened with potential demolition. It was closed suddenly by Sheffield City Council over safety fears in July 2022.
Public pressure forced a rethink and the council set up the Rose Garden Cafe Partnership to work with the community to restore the building.
Structural issues were not as serious as first suspected and planning permission was granted for the building’s restoration and extension in September.
The partnership has been hard at work and has now hit its £40,000 fundraising target, which will help to unlock grant bids from funding bodies.
The restoration will cost £2 million in total. The first phase of the work will cost £750,000.
A post on the group’s Facebook page said: “We are so grateful for all your support and contributions. The fundraising team met last night to celebrate, with cakes baked by our wonderful members and drinks kindly gifted by [catering firm] Dukes in the Park.
“We’re now taking a pause on our regular meetings to enjoy a well-earned rest whilst applications for grants are progressed.”
Next year the group will celebrate the centenary of the cafe.
Liz Hnat from the partnership said: “Although we’ve hit that target, fundraising won’t stop.
“We still have T-shirts, tote bags, beers and books for sale in the cafe and are gearing up for further fundraising at the centenary event in July next year.”