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A new cafe with a 'pay what you can' ethos is to open in Dover.
The eaterie is being set up by community helpers Noel Beamish and Judith Shilling and will have different price tiers – full price, a price for those on benefits and for those with no access to benefits.
The venue is at the former Seafarers' Centre, 168-172 Snargate Street and is undergoing renovations.
It will be called Sunrise Café when it opens in the spring.
A statement said: "Sunrise will be a professionally run café for the whole community, with a focus on ensuring those who need assistance get support and nourishing hot meals for themselves and their families.
"A voucher system will be in place for members of the public to donate and to gift meals for others so that no one goes hungry.
"Meals can be subsidised or upgraded using the voucher scheme, free meals can be provided for those who have no source of income and no means of cooking themselves a hot meal.
"We are keen to reach out to families and individuals in need of support and will therefore be tailoring different services to suit all of our customers."
Customers who pay the full price will be helping others in a constructive way.
Meanwhile the café will offer work, training and volunteering opportunities to support people, building skills and confidence.
The project has been pulled together to meet demand. According to the statement, there is a " high percentage of disadvantaged individuals and families facing financial challenges.
It continues: "Many do not work and are struggling to manage on the benefits they receive.
"Also, there are those with no recourse to public funds, rough sleepers and homeless in general (sofa surfers) who would benefit from this initiative.
Noel Beamish is a well known name in the homeless community. He is founding member and chairman of trustees at Doer Outreach Centre which helps homeless people. Noel has spent several years involved in Church leadership, most notably in Christians Together in Dover.
Judith Shilling is treasurer of Dover Outreach Centre and runs a Pharmaceutical Consultancy with her husband.
She has been a volunteer at Dover Soup Kitchen for over ten years and has been one of its leaders for the past eight.
You can keep up to date with the activities of Sunrise Café by following them on Facebook and on Instagram @sunrisecafedover.
Offers of donations and support are welcome.
Call 01304 339022 or email sunrisecafe@doveroutreachcentre.com.
