Fifty-mile mission to update cafe
A NEW man at the helm of town centre meetingplace The Vine is making it his mission to improve facilities there.
Paul Mulholland, the new manager of the coffee shop and Christian bookshop in The Borough, is to stride out on a 50-mile challenge to raise money for new cafe equipment.
He is being sponsored for what is expected to be up to a 12-hour-trek around his home town of Rotherham on October 14, to benefit what he describes as the “wonderful” team of church volunteers who keep the servery and shop running Mondays to Saturdays throughout the year.
Among those backing him is the chairman of trustees of The Vine, former Hinckley United Reformed Church minister the Rev Malcolm Clarke.
Mr Mulholland says many customers describe The Vine as a “haven” and hopes to encourage more churches in the area to make use of its resources.
As well as books, The Vine offers ethical gifts and cards, charity and Fairtrade products, alongside a thriving coffee shop and meeting place which hosts regular activity sessions throughout the week.
Rev Clarke says people popping in can be assured of a welcome and a listening ear, or a peaceful space to spend some time alone, depending on their need.
Mr Mulholland said: “We are trying to show people what Jesus is about in a non threatening way.”
Based in Rugby, he worked for nine years with Barnabas Fund, a charity supporting Christians facing persecution and oppression across the world but has extensive professional experience in the lay sector having worked for the likes of Nat West and Burger King and as a project director of logistics.
Married with teenage children, it was through his parents-in-law who live in Barwell that he heard about the position at The Vine, which was opened in 2001 by Churches Together Hinckley and Burbage.