St John’s Community Centre
About the project
St John’s Community Café – Funding Request for Essential Repairs to Outdoor Kiosk & Decking
For nearly five years, the Fusion Food Community Café Kiosk at St John’s Green has been a vital asset for residents of North Woolwich. Situated in the heart of an outdoor community space, with a community garden, children’s play areas and seating, the café provides affordable meals, social connection and a welcoming environment in one of Newham’s most diverse and economically deprived neighbourhoods.
The café sits within the St John’s Community Garden, a volunteer-supported green space that hosts regular gardening sessions and community activities. The garden is used weekly by local children, families and a well-established stroke support group, offering a therapeutic and inclusive environment that promotes health, wellbeing and social cohesion.
The café kiosk and adjacent decking are now in urgent need of repairs to remain safe and usable. As the structures are fully outdoors, they have been exposed to weathering, heavy community use and the natural wear that comes with serving hundreds of residents each month. Without these essential works, the café’s ability to operate—and the wider community’s access to safe, meaningful outdoor space—will be significantly compromised.
What is VIY doing?
Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) is partnering with Travis Perkins TPMS to support the St Johns Community Café. The café kiosk and adjacent decking urgently require replacement to ensure they remain safe and usable for the local community.
As part of this project, we will be giving the café a fresh new look, as well as replacing the current decking and pergola.
– Removal: Remove decking from four current areas.
– Preparation: Cut around existing fixed wooden seating in readiness for new treated timber joists.
– Installation: Fit new treated deck boards to the joists in all four identified areas.
– Sleepers: Remove and refix the sleepers surrounding the decking to ensure they are secure.
– Maintenance: Pressure wash the built-in seating and benches, then apply a protective wood stain once dry.
Pergola:
– Structural Repairs: The structure has become unsafe. dig around existing posts, remove all old concrete, and resit with new Post Crete.
– Roofing: Cover the pergola roof with 2.5m x 2.6m Perspex roofing sheets to allow for use during inclement weather.
Ramp and Café Container:
– Ramp: Keep the main ramp; pressure wash it and apply a protective wood stain once dry.
– Container Repairs: Replace rotten and damaged wood on the front of the café container.
– Painting: Paint the exterior of the café container using metal shield paint.
What will be the impact of our project?
Funding will ensure:
Safety for all users, including children, older residents and people with mobility challenges who rely on secure, even decking to access the café and seating areas.
Continued operation of a much-loved community café that provides low-cost, freshly cooked food and is often the only warm, welcoming meeting point for many residents.
Preservation of a green community hub, supporting outdoor activities, gardening programmes, and informal use of the play areas.
Increased sustainability, ensuring the kiosk and decking can withstand year-round weather and support long-term community use.
The Café’s Community Impact
Operated by Fusion Foods, the café offers affordable hot meals, snacks and drinks, with a 10% discount for local people. It also provides community catering for events, supporting neighbourhood celebrations, activities and cultural gatherings.
Manzoor and the Fusion Foods team are deeply embedded in the community, regularly donating food to people experiencing homelessness and contributing to local charities and community events.
The café’s presence strengthens social connections, combats isolation, and supports a healthy, vibrant outdoor environment for all ages.
