Residents in Hoole are celebrating after winning a lottery vote for a community café.
The Granada Reports TV news programme has this evening revealed the Hoole Community Centre cafe as the latest winner in the People’s Millions Lottery Fund vote for cheques up to £50,000.
Beaming Hoole councillor Cllr Bob Thompson said: "We are absolutely delighted. This will make so much difference to the centre. I am grateful to everybody who voted."
Paula Norris, of Hoole Community Hub, explained to what purpose the money would be put.
She said: "We are going to start a community cafe as soon as we can and deliver great food to the community."
The café, based at the centre in Westminster Road, will provide vital support and social opportunities for isolated and lonely members of the community.
People were invited to learn more about Hoole Community Centre’s vision by watching Granada News on Tuesday and then vote for the café, which was among a number of projects short-listed for cash from the People’s Millions Lottery Fund.
The scheme that attracted the most votes on the night gets the money and it was the Hoole project that emerged victorious from Tuesday's vote.
The café will offer an affordable menu to enable residents to enjoy a more active social life, offer free tablet computer tuition to help people access basic email, internet and Skype facilities and provide advice on preparing affordable and nutritional meals at home.
Cllr Thompson, chair of Hoole Community Development Trust, which runs the centre, said: “The Hoole ward has a high number of single people living within its community and having a network of support is vital to ensure that they don’t suffer from issues such as loneliness and poor health to name just a couple.”
With support from Cheshire West and Chester Council, a kitchen has been installed and now a part-time cook will be employed thanks to the lottery win.
A part-time volunteer coordinator will also be employed to create a team of volunteers to assist in the café and the library. The front of the building will be paved, with furniture installed so the café could operate outside.
