CALA former sales office becomes Oxford community centre

Wolvercote residents were handed ownership of CALA Homes' sales office after it completed its development in the village this year.

The two-storey building with the top floor accessible by wheelchair via a lift also has a small enclosed back garden. 

Now named The Wolvercote Mill it houses a community café run entirely by volunteers offering homemade soups, freshly filled rolls and homemade cakes.

There are also two rooms for hire and various activities are on offer including yoga, life drawing, a free drop-in IT help desk, and every Monday there is a co-working space provided for £5 per day with concessions available for those not in employment.

Other events are being considered such as a film club, a collaboration with Wolvercote Young People's Club and the Damascus Rose Kitchen is running an occasional pop- up restaurant, starting on Friday, December 1.

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Tamsin Smith, from the working group which launched the project said: “The response from the community has been wonderful.

"We have a fabulous group of volunteers but are always looking for more.”

Local councillor Jo Sandelson added: “Wolvercotians are delighted to have this wonderful space available to them.

"Other venues, like their neighbours The White Hart pub, provide an alternative space for events such as music nights and the community market that will complement all that happens at the Wolvercote Mill.

"The café’s homemade apple cake was the best I’ve tasted for a long time.”