The last week in the life of Filling the Gap Community Café has been epic! In terms of planning, doing and achieving, I feel like we jumped up a ladder from square two to fifteen in the space of only five days. It was terrifying and amazing. No doubt there will be another plateau whilst we put into action all the marvellous advice we received, but the last few days have most definitely got the adrenalin pumping.
We started the week by meeting with Hayley from Making Local Food Work (MLFW), an amazing and inspiring organisation that supports small businesses like us. Renee found them and their support has been nothing short of genius. Hayley spoke about co-ops, local connections and the potential of group buying. The wonder of it for me is that everything MLFW stand for puts people, environment and ethics before economics. Of course businesses have to function and I am the first to put up my hands and say that I know nothing about ‘the city’ and how large organisations have to function. I am only aware of the stereotypes, unfortunately. However, we’re not trying to be ‘big’, merely significant, different, doing things the best way we know how. By the end of the meeting, Renee and I felt that our dreams had somehow been validated by Hayley, our expert and enthusiast.
Having someone believe in us who is not obliged to, not that the love and support of our family and friends hasn’t been essential, gave us a boost to keep on climbing up the ladder to achieve the other, rather more mundane, admin tasks that needed doing last week.
Consciously, conscientiously contrary, triple alliteration, ooohhh, I like it.
