Turning lives around at St. Andrew’s Church Friendship Café

Rhona is a middle-aged ex-caseworker who, because of years of severe and sustained domestic abuse, had not ventured outside her home for over four years. When the Friendship Cafe opened, her carer persuaded her to come along.

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To begin with, she couldn’t cope for longer than 10 minutes – she spoke to no one, remained in her own ‘bubble’ and appeared ‘broken’. But as the weeks, months, and now years have passed, Rhona has blossomed. Volunteers and guests alike have gently tried to look after her.

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Rhona needs transport - a trusted volunteer (a neighbour) picks her up and takes her back home (sometimes via the local Co-op). Her birthday is celebrated with a card, cake and a song, and we know her favourite soups; someone always keeps an eye on her; she is valued as an individual in the group.

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Rhona is a different person now – she smiles a lot and chats to everyone, even sharing her confidences and occasional lapses are short-lived. She enjoys our special events, and has grown to trust the Cafe and its people. She now has a network of locals who know and look out for her.

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In our closed season, she will readily phone a Cafe volunteer to ask for a lift, or go for coffee, and she also attends other village events. Best of all, she is often seen around the village shopping independently. Rhona tells us that the Cafe makes her happy, and helps her face the day.

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St. Andrew’s Friendship Cafe is in its fourth year of operation, and is now an established feature of village life. It has grown from modest beginnings to providing a free lunch (soups, home bakes, and limitless hot/cold drinks to 40+ guests and 10+ volunteers.

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The Space is a small, rural Church in Alford Aberdeenshire, where the ‘welcome’ starts before guests enter - local postering, banners and signposting.

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On entry, guests are greeted by a volunteer, who helps with coats, mobility aids and seating. Newcomers are introduced to others at their table, where the conversation is often in the local dialect of Doric.

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The church exudes ‘Welcome’. It is warm and cosy - tables are set appropriately, with tablecloths, serviettes and fresh flowers. Food is provided and served by volunteers, whose shared purpose is to make guests feel as if invited into their home - any surplus food is offered as takeaway.

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Everyone is treated as an individual and addressed by name - regulars’ birthdays are celebrated with cards, cake and song. Those with accessibility issues are offered transport by trusted volunteers, whose shared purpose will also deliver takeaway to anyone unable to attend. Everyone is committed to looking after each other.

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Life is enriched by special events such as St. Andrew’s Day, Christmas, a Burns’ Supper, Easter celebrations and so on with appropriate menus and entertainment provided by Alford Academy pupils or local musicians, or through community singing.

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The Cafe successfully addresses our specific issues of rural isolation/ loneliness in the long, harsh, dark Alford winters. The Friendship Cafe is for everyone. Our guests tell us, both verbally and by writing in our ‘Friendship Book’ , that Wednesday is the highlight of their week, and is, for some, their only outing. They appreciate the food, the cosy ambience of our church, and the warmth of their welcome. But most of all, the like to share chat and laughter, and the feeling of belonging. Although everything is free, many make donations.

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Our guests’ issues are diverse - ill-health, hunger, mental health, mobility, limited vision, abuse, bereavement, loneliness and isolation, but they see the Cafe as a refuge, a conduit to further support, and a networking hub to local services. In a village where cafes are closing - they have somewhere to go.

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The volunteers are a committed, hard-working team from a variety of backgrounds, mostly retired, many living alone. They unite in common purpose, using the talents, experience and abilities they still have. Together, they are multi-taskers - soup-makers, bakers, servers, drivers and so on, but their main contribution is care and friendliness and time to listen. They love seeing people blossom and enjoy being involved in something worthwhile.

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The café is a recognised asset to its community. It links with existing support organisations including the local Resilience Group, Health Centre, Men’s Shed and other local churches.

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As Friendship Cafe partners, Alford Rotary Club, and Co-operative store offer co-ordinated support, volunteers and funding, and opportunities to work together for everyone’s benefit.

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The Friendship Café at Alford in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was a runner up in the Warmest Welcome Award at the inaugural Warm Welcome Awards in June 2026.

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