‘Someone needs to open a play cafe in this area.’

That was the WhatsApp message I sent to another mum from church on yet another rainy afternoon when I just needed to get out of the flat. Walking through Vauxhall in the dark at 3:30pm, with my newborn in the pram and my toddler on his scooter, I began to imagine the difference it would make to have a permanent hub for local families, somewhere warm and light to play, connect, and find support.

Through running our toddler group at Hope Church Vauxhall, we had already seen the need for a space where parents, particularly mums, could come with their little ones and find community. 

Our area has one of the highest rates of child poverty in Lambeth, yet there are very few free or affordable options for families. In Lambeth, 11% of households are overcrowded (2021 Census). Research from Shelter shows that 82% of people believe overcrowding harms child development, and 96% say it limits space to play. 

In response to this need, in September 2024 I registered Roam Community Cafe as a Community Interest Company, and we began praying that God would open the door to the right building.

There’s a phrase I love in the book of Ruth, ‘As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz.’

It’s a beautiful reminder of God’s hidden hand at work in all things. The story of Roam has felt like this at every stage.

As it turned out, just as I was beginning to give up on the idea due to a lack of available properties, a building on the same street as Hope Church became available. As it turned out, the space, an old pub, had room for a separate play area downstairs and a cafe upstairs, enabling us to create something for all ages. And as it turned out, I wasn’t the only one with this vision.

So, with a lot of prayer and some encouragement to take a risk, a team of three of us from Hope Church entered into lease negotiations and launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise start-up funds. Thanks to incredibly generous support, we were able to secure the lease and cover our initial costs.

By God’s grace, we opened our doors in January this year. Our ground floor cafe offers a warm, welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. Downstairs, our play space provides a safe and engaging place for children, while parents and carers have the opportunity to rest, connect, and build relationships.

A place for light and life in our community

Since starting Hope Church in Vauxhall in 2018, our heart has always been not just to exist in the community, but to truly become part of it, to live life alongside people, to speak hope into everyday moments, and to offer practical support as well as spiritual care.

Roam is a natural extension of that vision. While not a ministry of Hope Church (Roam is an independent Community Interest Company), we are open about the fact that our Christian faith shapes our values: kindness, integrity, generosity, service, and community.

Here, we’re able to walk alongside people in significant life moments, from becoming parents to finding employment. We’re also here for the everyday moments, offering a warm welcome, a good cup of coffee, or a big mug of tea after another sleepless night.

Service might look like a conversation across a table, or a small act of generosity – like paying forward a drink for someone who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Looking ahead

As we grow, we hope to deepen our social impact by expanding free play sessions for families and developing an employability programme for women. But this depends on long-term financial sustainability. Please pray that Roam would become financially sustainable, so we can continue to be a place of welcome, connection, and hope in Vauxhall, where friendships are built and faith is shared. 

In the book of Zechariah, chapter 8 presents a vision for the restoration of the city:

‘The Lord of Armies says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of their advanced age. The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.”’

Later it says,

‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’

Please Pray

Pray that Roam would be a place that leads our community to see and say ‘God is with you’; and why not join us by praying this for your own communities too?