Charity cafe saved after new volunteers step in
BBCA charity-run cafe which was approaching a "crisis" over dwindling volunteer numbers has been saved.
Bede's Bakehouse, which is based within Sunderland's St Peter's Church, had warned it might be forced to close if more helpers did not join the team.
But chair of trustees Joshua McKeith, who also represents the area on the city council, said its future had now been secured after about 10 new volunteers joined.
Anne Kemp, 74, who is one of the cafe founders and will be stepping back in April, said: "They all like it and will hopefully still come when I leave."
The cafe had never had financial worries and welcomed regular customers over the past decade, with plans to involve the community more, the team said.
However, it faced the possibility of closure when its volunteers numbers decreased to just a handful.
Brenda Cunningham, 71, travelled from nearby Washington to join the volunteer team for the first time on Friday.
"It's a while since I've been a newbie, but everybody's friendly and helpful," she said.
Sharman Hoey, 69, from Roker, was previously a customer but recently decided to move to the other side of the counter.
"I used to come in and have a cuppa before," she said.
Ms Hoey said it was important to preserve the cafe as it was a place for people to socialise and provided a community.
"They can come here and meet people that are kind and will help them, somebody to be a back up if they needed."