A NEW community-focused café has opened at a popular Basingstoke park just in time for the summer holidays.

All profits made at The Orchard Community Café, which opened at the end of June in the BVA building off War Memorial Park, will go towards funding sessions for young people in the region.

It is run by RMD Adventure Learning, an organisation formed shortly after the Covid pandemic took hold, which aims to support young people and their families through activities, programmes and events.

The Community Interest Company, responsible for several youth club sessions in North Hampshire and the wider region, is run by Vince Parkes and Ed Ives-Wara, who have 30 years of experience in the voluntary sector between them, and Ed says the cafe will be no different in supporting the young people of the town.

Speaking about his company's aims, Ed said: "It is to provide for people who might not have opportunities to thrive.

"We were looking what we could do to continue some of [the work]. Then comes along a bright idea - there is a space here that is not being used.

"It had a coffee machine as someone had tried to do it before.

"I spoke to Basingstoke Voluntary Action and we have partnered up with them and any profits go back into youth services."

The café is friendly for all, including dogs, and Vikky Lonie and Hannah Lloyd ensure that all customers are well looked after.

They also describe is as a "signposting" opportunity, making sure that any customers who could benefits from any of the services RMD provide are told about them.

"Ever since [it opened], it has been thriving," Vikky said.

"We have had a lot of regulars come back and recognise them by name."

"One of the really positives feedbacks is from parents," volunteer Hannah added. "We have games out and we didn't want to be a place where children are seen but not heard."

The café will run various events, as well as being a place that people out enjoying a walk around the park can drop in for a pit stop.

They are open from 11am to 3pm, six days a week, although their opening hours can be changeable.

You can find out more on their Facebook page here.