Cafe at Rochdale Infirmary looking for volunteers to run it

Kirstin Schofield and Pam Boulton, volunteers at Rochdale Infirmary’s Aroma Community Coffee Shop

A cafe which opened at Rochdale Infirmary last year is asking for volunteers to come and help run the thriving business.

The Aroma Community Coffee Shop located in the busy outpatients department at Rochdale Infirmary is open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 9.00am until 3.00pm.

The shop which is part of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which runs Rochdale Infirmary, sells a wide range of coffees, sandwiches, salads, toast and toasted teacakes, assorted cakes, confectionery, bottled drinks, newspapers and greetings cards.

Open to patients, carers, visitors and staff, the café is looking for volunteers to help run it. They will be given full training by The Pennine Acute Trust’s catering department and would need to be available to give their support from 8.45am until noon on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.

Julie Leonard, retail manager for the Trust, said: “Since opening last October we have seen a steady stream of visitors using the facility. It ensures that patients, carers and visitors can relax and enjoy a ‘brew’ in a pleasant environment within Rochdale Infirmary.

“If anyone is interested in volunteering in the café or in another role at Rochdale Infirmary, we would be delighted to hear from them. Please contact the voluntary services department on 0161 604 5892.”

Jonathan Preston is one volunteer who gave up some of his spare time to help out in the café. He said: “My wife loves me working in the coffee shop as it gets me out from under her feet for a while, and I’m loving it too! It is great meeting lots of different people and I feel good about doing my little bit to help the NHS.”

Any profits generated by the café are reinvested into making continual improvements in patient care across the Trust.