National Lottery gives £385,000 to Rural Coffee Caravan

The Rural Coffee Caravan has been given £385,000 from the National Lottery.

The charity which visits over 200 villages a year supports people in rural areas and is regularly seen on village greens and at community centres across Suffolk.

It tackles loneliness and isolation in the county and has said it will use the money over five years to benefit vulnerable people and those living in the most rurally isolated communities.

The charity said that the National Lottery grant will enable it to “increase the number of village connections, expand their reach among support agencies and with hosts of ‘More Than A Shop’ and ‘Meet Up Mondays’ venues, to increase the number of C-A-F-E (“Coffee And Friends Events”) and to recruit more volunteers.”

Ann Osborn, its CEO, said: “We are delighted to have been successful with our lottery bid. £385k over five years. A third of our required income secured each year. Huge relief.”