My background is in catering and, after studying, I was managing with a large contract catering company by the age of 19. Later, I trained as an Early Years Practitioner, worked in Pre-Schools and as a Parenting Practitioner.

Angel Café grew from a stay and play group and has gone from strength to strength. We love being at St John’s and seeing people of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds come together, making friends and supporting one another.

I am passionate about baking! During lockdown, loyal customers were missing my cakes so I took the opportunity to set up Angel Bakes. Our cakes are a talking point of Angel Café and often create great excitement at the counter!

I love spending time with my growing family, I enjoy keeping fit and singing in my local community choir.

I have worked at Angel café since 2018 when the youngest of my 3 boys started at pre-school. Before that I was a primary school teacher in London for a few years. I live in Hildenborough so it is so good to get to know the community better through the work of the café at St John’s. Baking was always my hobby but it has become more than that since I had my 5* rating for my kitchen and can now bake for the café and Angel bakes at home. I have also recently become a trustee of Angel Lane CIC.

I have lived in Hildenborough all my life and went to the local school, got married in the church, used the playgroup when my kids were babies etc and really wanted to give something back.  When this opportunity came up I didn’t hesitate and always enjoy my time at the Cafe, chatting to the regulars and watching the little ones grow from bumps to bubbas.

In my spare time I play and umpire netball and have teenage twin boys, oh and four Maine Coon cats!

I have only been volunteering for a few months but I really enjoy it, it's something different for me to do and I feel I am giving something back. Plus the ladies are all so lovely to work with.

How much I enjoy volunteering at the Angel Cafe! I love helping others & feel I'm definitely contributing to the community effort! Always enjoying the friendly chat with our lovely customers & staff.

I always look forward to my Fridays working in the cafe; chatting with our regular customers, meeting new ones and being part of an amazing team of people who have become friends. It's lovely to be part of the community giving something back but it has also given me a great sense of purpose and joy

My Fridays volunteering at the cafe are my favourite days of the week - seeing and getting to know all our regulars, meeting new people and having a chat or a laugh or a commiseration is just wonderful! My day job is freelance and can get a bit lonely, so having a team to work with (and such a fabulous one at that!) is so good for feeling connected and part of something valuable.