AN open door café which provides free lunches and helps bring people together is moving to a new home after a busy year which has meant it needs a bigger base.

The Open Door Café is moving to the Warndon Hub in Shap Drive in Worcester next year after a successful year which has seen the project embraced by the community.

The free lunch club is open from noon until 1.30pm most Saturdays but will be based at the community centre from Saturday, January 6.

Worcester News: COMMUNITY: Cllr Jill Desayrah (left) is the driving force behind the open door cafe in Warndon COMMUNITY: Cllr Jill Desayrah (left) is the driving force behind the open door cafe in Warndon (Image: Supplied)

The cafe serves around 40 lunches each week, providing nutritious home-cooked food with a vegetarian option. Locals also bring homemade cakes for everyone to enjoy.

Its purpose is to provide a place for people to enjoy hot, homemade food and socialise - and this means nobody in Warndon has to be alone.

Sponsorship from numerous sources has allowed it to flourish over the past 16 months and into the future.

Cllr Jill Desayrah, who runs the cafe with a team of volunteers, said: “The success of the Open Door Café has meant that we need the larger room at Shap Drive to more comfortably accommodate everyone.

Worcester News: POPULAR: The Open Door Cafe in Warndon in Worcester POPULAR: The Open Door Cafe in Warndon in Worcester (Image: Supplied)

"Our last event at St Wulstan’s, generously sponsored by the Rev. Sarah Northall, was a Christmas party where people came along dressed in festive jumpers, sang carols and pulled crackers.  Looking forwards, we are excited to be welcoming current and new attendees to our new home in Shap Drive.”

The Café has become an important community resource.

Warndon resident Lesley Milton said: “The Open Door Cafe has been a great success in bringing the community together and is now a regular event enjoyed by many of our local residents who live alone, plus families who are finding life a struggle.

"It's a joy to see young and old chatting and helping each other, laughs and hugs all around make for a feelgood afternoon and of course the amazing food cooked by Jill never fails to put a smile on our faces. Long may this project continue to rebuild our community, bringing people together."

Another attendee has called it  “a lifeline” and a highlight in their week.

The oldest attendee is Joan Baldwin,  94 years old.

She said: “I spend most of my week at home alone. It’s lovely that a friend can wheel me to the Open Door Café. We meet up with local folk and enjoy a lovely hot meal together.

It's a wonderful break in my week. Jill is available for consultation as our local councillor and has resolved a long-standing problem with Platform Housing over my kitchen ceiling which was falling down.”

Regular cake baker Eve said: “The Open Door Cafe is a wonderful opportunity to meet with the local community, we have made good friendships in a day and age where many are on their own with problems. It is a place of welcome and warmth. Thank you Jill for setting this up and being available, spending your time serving our community.”