25/10/2026
🩵 SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A REMINDER THAT YOU’RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. 🩵
One of the biggest honours for me is having other businesses offer us their spaces and trust us to put our stamp on their properties. That, to me, means more than words can ever explain.
To say I’m overwhelmed today would be an understatement. ❤️
In truth, I’ve taken a few knocks this week. I’ve allowed certain opinions to get to me, and for a moment, I started questioning myself and everything we are trying to build. But the incredible amount of love and support I’ve received from established businesses, community groups and charity CEOs has reminded me exactly why I started this journey.
Sometimes, the right people come along at the right time and remind you that you really are doing something worthwhile.
What people don’t always see is the reality of my life behind closed doors. They don’t see the hours, the sacrifices, the planning, the stress or the programmes I’ve spent MONTHS creating quietly in the background. They see a café opening, another opportunity and another project, but there is SO much more to this than simply opening a viable café! 😂
I put at least 18 hours a day, seven days a week into what I’m building. I do it because I believe in the bigger picture, because I believe in our communities, and because I want to create something that genuinely makes a difference.
One thing that’s really important to me is ensuring we build something sustainable. I have never personally taken a penny for the work I do, and my priority is making sure we are established enough to keep our doors open and continue the work we’ve started. That will always come first.
I sometimes wish people could see just how much goes on behind the scenes, because there is so much more to running a community-focused café and developing meaningful programmes than meets the eye.
My household, my family time and practically my entire life have been put on hold to make this work. I honestly cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a few hours simply being ME. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had my nails done or my eyebrows waxed! 🤣 So, if I look absolutely dog rough, now you know why!
My priorities are firmly focused on the end goal. Building something sustainable. Creating opportunities. Supporting our communities. Making sure that what we are putting our hearts and souls into has a future.
I think sometimes it’s easy to see money coming into a business and not realise how much of that is needed to cover stock, bills, rent and day-to-day running costs. There is a lot that goes into keeping a business going, particularly when you’re trying to build something with a wider community purpose.
I simply hope that, as we grow, people can see the bigger picture and understand the intentions behind everything we do. ❤️
Since opening Café Forever23, I have worked my backside off as a volunteer. Have I always got everything right? No. Have I made mistakes? Absolutely. Have I made decisions that, with hindsight, I might have approached differently? Of course.
And if I’ve burnt your bacon along the way, I apologise! 😂❤️ I have never claimed to be a five-star chef. I’m simply a woman trying her absolute best with what she has, learning as she goes and giving everything she has to something she believes in.
I’m human, just like everyone else, and I’m still learning every single day.
Opinions do matter to me, and I genuinely want to learn, listen and improve wherever I can. But when you put so much of yourself into something, sometimes things can hurt more than you expect, especially when there are already so many pressures behind the scenes.
I know not everyone will always agree with every decision, and that’s absolutely fine. All I would ever ask is that, if there’s something you’re unsure about or would like to understand, please come and speak to me directly. I would always welcome an honest conversation over misunderstandings or things being passed from one person to another.
My door is open, and I’m always happy to have a conversation. ❤️
Today has reminded me that there are some truly incredible people and businesses out there who see the bigger picture, understand the work involved and believe in what we are trying to achieve.
To every business, community group and charity leader who has reached out, offered support, opened a door or simply reminded me that I’m on the right path — THANK YOU. You have no idea how much that means to me, especially this week. 🩵
I started this because I believe people deserve better. I believe our communities need safe spaces, kindness, understanding and people willing to roll their sleeves up and actually DO something.
I am not perfect, and I never will be. But I can promise you this: I will always give it everything I have.
Behind all of this is a real person who gets tired, who sometimes doubts herself, who has moments when it all feels a little overwhelming, but who keeps showing up because the end goal means so much.
Today, the support I’ve received has reminded me that the hard work, the sacrifices and the belief in what we are creating are worth it.
And to everyone standing beside me, supporting me and believing in what we are building, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You are appreciated more than you will ever know. ❤️
We are only just getting started. 🩵
Be humble. Be kind. Keep showing up. ;23 💙💚💛
