Coffee and Computing Boost for Estate
A CUPPA and a slice of technology are being served up to residents of a Middlesbrough estate.
People living in Easterside can look forward to getting web-savvy thanks to a new Internet café.
The project, at Easterside shops off Broughton Avenue, is a former shop unit that was being used occasionally by Easterside District Residents’ Association (EDRA) until recently.
But people using the space asked local veteran community activist June Goodchild and landlord Erimus Housing if the unit could be put to better use – and the idea for the new café, the brainchild of Tracy Harvey, Easterside’s Community Development Officer, was born.
June said: “The café was only open for fifteen hours a week so we decided to put the facility to better use and open it for ten hours a day from 8am to 8pm. Now the facility is open for the whole community to enjoy, relax and come together.”
The café was created thanks to the hard work of local volunteers who all clubbed together to clear and clean the property, as well as carrying out the painting and decorating.
Erimus Housing paid for and installed new lighting and organisations including Middlesbrough Council and Acklam Rugby Club, as well as local tradesmen, worked hard to make the café ready for public use by giving up their precious time.
Mike Carr, Chair of the Erimus Housing Board, said: “This is just one example of our commitment to making a difference in our communities.
“Easterside has shown it is a community that clubs together to make changes that will benefit the neighbourhood. We hope the residents make the most of and enjoy this fantastic new facility.”