The future of Melksham’s Carers Cafe has been secured after a new charity stepped in to take over its running.
Carers Together Wiltshire has taken on the monthly cafe, which provides unpaid carers with a vital space to socialise and find support. The cafe was at risk of closure after its previous operator, Carer Support Wiltshire, said it could no longer afford to keep it going.
Held on the first Friday of each month at the King’s Arms Hotel, the cafe has become a valued community space for carers who often face isolation and stress.
Carer Support Wiltshire, a former contractor of Wiltshire Council, had run the café for several years with council funding. However, when the charity became independent last year, the funding stopped, and the contract has now been transferred to Carers Together Wiltshire.
A spokesperson for Carers Together Wiltshire, Kirsten Kerr, said, “We know how important these spaces are for companionship, support and a break, so to ensure a smooth transition, I can confirm that the Carers Café in Melksham will continue to operate at the same venue, time and day of the week for the next three months.
“There is no intention to change venues unless carers in Melksham tell us that the location doesn’t work for them or the types of things they would like to do would not be possible in the current venue.
“The three-month timeline has been put in place to give us time to consult with carers and then implement any changes they would like to see. Just to add some reassurance, all venues are booked through to September.”
