Droxford Community Hub CIC (trading as Wilfrid's Cafe) runs a community hub and cafe in an annexe adjacent to St Mary & All Saints Church in Droxford, Hampshire, and commenced trading on 4 January 2020 at the beginning of the Covid pandemic so could only offer restricted services during 2020 and part of 2021. The cafe commenced trading fully in May 2021 and is completely volunteer led. The cafe continues to go from strength to strength under the guidance of its seven directors to further its main objective: "To secure the establishment of a community hub and cafe in Droxford and to maintain it and manage it as a centre for activities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Droxford Parish and neighbouring districts without discrimination of age, sex, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating the statutory authorities voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to provide facilities or activities in the interests of social welfare, for recreation or other leisure time and occupation with the object of improving the lives of the said inhabitants". ACHIEVEMENTS 2024/25 Opening hours have been extended from 5 days per week (10.00 am - 12.30 pm), Saturdays 1-.00 am - 4.00 pm and with Friday opening from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm) so that light lunches can now be offered on a Friday as well as Saturday. All baristas have received additional training to maintain the cafe's reputation for good coffee and six more baristas have been trained. Cakes of all varieties are bakes by our volunteers and the cafe maintains a small stock of ingredients for their use. A large range of visitors support the care, not just from Droxford and surrounding villages, but also a growing number of walkers and cyclists. The cafe is used for a chat with friends, a family meeting place and with a 'muddy paws' policy there are many walkers and their dogs dropping by. The three outside tables are also popular from spring until autumn. Wilfrid's actively supports the community by working collaboratively with the village hall at Book Sales and the Makers' and Christmas Markets offering discounted drinks or providing free drinks for those working in the churchyard or litter-picking. Regular donations are also made to the food bank through St Patrick's Homeless Hostel. The biggest contribution to the community is through the DCH/Wilfrid's grants system which is distributed at the end of each year to those applying for a grant and helps a wide range of local individuals and organisations. £35,233 has been distributed to the community in the last four years. The church is also supported, not only using the building as a base but in helping to preserve the historic building. DCH pays all its utilities, 70% of the oil used for the whole church heating and contributes to its repair and maintenance. The church has the opportunity to apply for further funds through the grants system. The cafe is also used for councillor surgeries, visits from the Police Community Support Officer, Citizens' Advice and the Parish Council. A Macmillan coffee morning is run every year in September and £1,300 was raised in 2024. The cafe and its volunteers were also heavily involved in the Droxford Country Fair, offering bacon baps as well as cakes in the cafe and cream teas in the Village Hall. The company runs a successful young people's training scheme and provides a valuable opportunity to gain experience of the working world in a controlled and safe environment. Wilfrid's Cafe was proud to receive a Mayor of Winchester Award for Services to the Community and received a subsequent visit from the Mayor to meet with volunteers and sample the coffee and cake. The amount given to the community through the grants system for 2024/25 was £13,633 made up of £598 given to charity and £13,035 Community Fund.

The Company's stakeholders are the residents of Droxford and visitors to the village together with local food and beverage suppliers. Funds to build the cafe were raised locally following consultation with residents of Droxford and other interested parties including South Downs National Park Authority, Hampshire County Council, Droxford Parish Council, Parochial Church Council and Friends of Droxford Church. The company makes extensive use of social media for both communication and feedback including a website (www.wilfrids.org), Facebook, TripAdvisor, Instagram and WhatsApp. It also has a regular bi-monthly article in the parish magazine and sends out regular information to volunteers. All interested parties are invited to the AGM.

No remuneration was received

Macmillan Cancer Support - £1.300 Parochial Church Council - £3,650 (urgent repairs to the church building) Friends of Droxford Church - £4,050 (new church AV system, contribution towards replacement church heating, other repairs) Stuart Attrill - £50 (grave plaque for someone unknown) Joanna Selwood - £153 (children's craft items for church services) Bellringers - £600 (draught proofing church tower) Friends of Meonstoke School - £750 (emotional literacy support room) Friends of Droxford School - £250 (artists' materials and lessons) Droxford Cricket Club - £400 (replacement storage shed) Droxford Village Hall - £1,500 (repair/replacement of hall floor) Ailsa Duckworth - £50 (A3 laminator and pouches to support fundraising) Droxford Scouts - £750 (food hygiene courses and coolers) Droxford Speedwatch - £250 (purchase of a speed gun) Sustainable Droxford - £180 (bird box camera) Sustainable Droxford - £1,000 (mower, rotavator and wildflower seeds)