Information about The Mill at St. Joseph's:
The Mill is a community café. It is open 9.00–2.00, Tuesday–Friday, and on the second Saturday of each month, accompanying the Farmers’ Market. It is a welcoming place where people gather and enjoy good quality coffee or tea and a bite to eat. However, it is more than just a café. It is an important asset for the whole community in the heart of Balerno, loved equally by its many loyal customers and the dedicated band of volunteers and staff who make it what it is.
The Mill is a member of the Edinburgh Community Café Network, a network of cafés committed to providing sociable spaces, preventing isolation, promoting healthier eating and offering a friendly welcome. The Mill uses, as far as possible, local and Fair-Trade produce. Any funds raised go to support the work of Balerno Parish Church and other local charities.
Information about the project:
The Mill requested funding to upgrade their resources in the area of workwear, in particular to purchase appropriate clothing (e.g. aprons and name badges) for their volunteers and staff.
Ever since COVID ended, demand for the café has grown steadily. The number of orders, and required baking, cooking, serving and clearing up has grown accordingly. The Mill volunteers and staff now need suitably robust and clean clothing to offer them protection and to maintain good food hygiene practices.
Feedback:
The Mill was able to purchase aprons and name badges for their volunteers and staff. They were at a point where they didn’t have enough aprons, and those they did have were old and worn. The new aprons have provided all volunteers and staff with smart new clothing important to maintain good food hygiene practices.
The Mill has a number of volunteers and remembering names can be hard for customers and new (and old!) volunteers. Name badges not only give the Mill’s volunteers a sense of belonging but also offer customers a way of approaching and getting to know volunteers and staff.
Application Tranche: 2023-B