Hetton Trust recently closed the Barnard cafe in the Hetton Centre. Our 20 place nursery is based within the centre and has been open since 31.10.2016. We took on the space with the understanding and agreement the cafe would provide hot meals (at a charge to parents) for our children. 
Without any notice or consultation  with trust tenants or nursery families the cafe has been closed (for financial reasons) and despite the nursery putting a business proposal to the Trust to take over the running of this as a local CIC and run it as a play cafe for the community whilst continuing to provide hot nutritious meals, and to give some of the ex cafe staff jobs back, after being made redundant by the trust we have been told this proposal will not even be considered until January 2021.

We have requested - as have our parents, a meeting with the trust to discuss this decision - this has also been refused. They have stated ‘it is not the trust responsibility to provide meals’  we have also been refused access to other cooking facilities within the building and refused permission to install an electric cooker to our own small kitchen (due to lack of ventilation).

WE DISAGREE!!!!
WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR CHILDREN HAVE HOT NUTRITIOUS MEALS - as we were promised when we took on the tenancy.

We also want to give back to the community and reopen the cafe. Please help support us and petition the trust on behalf of the nursery, community, ex Barnard Cafe staff and our nursery parents.  Consider our proposal NOW! 

Thank you everyone your support is much appreciated by all the local community and our families.