THEY have donated thousands of pounds to worthy causes in the area.

And now Ambry’s Cafe volunteers are celebrating their 10-year anniversary.

The Almondbury eatery was originally founded as part of a parish partnership between the village’s Methodist, Catholic and Anglican Church.

Chairman of the management committee Ray Nicholls said: “We decided we needed a presence in the village – and stalled on the idea of having a cafe.

“Ten years on we are delighted at the success and Ambry’s has really grown.

“When we first started we thought we would have just a shelf with coffee and cake, but now we have a proper cafe.

“Staffed entirely by volunteers, we serve a full breakfast, jacket potatoes, hot and cold sandwiches and meat and vegetable lunch on a Friday.

“The success is really down to the dedication of all the 50 volunteers.

“We have a management committee of about 12 people, a group who do the shopping and lots that cook and serve.

“Every year we raise around £5,000 and we give donations of £500 to local clubs that support young people such as the cricket club.

“The management committee express their sincere thanks to all the staff who help make Ambry’s such a welcoming place.”

Jane Thornton, is responsible for organising the rota at the cafe.

She has no involvement with the church yet came across Ambry’s after her parents’ friend recommended it.

She said: “It is an important social meeting place.

“Personally when I came to this area, my children had already finished school, so I couldn’t meet other parents at the school gates.

“It was a wonderful way for me to feel part of Almondbury and I think that is so important for people to feel as though they belong to their community.

“Often if a regular doesn’t come in when you are used to seeing them, we notice.

“It is that sort of thing that you wouldn’t necessarily notice in a big busy cafe in town.

“It is a hub for the community.”

The cafe has four staff running the site most days, however due to depleting volunteer numbers they are often down to three.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering should pop along to the Northgate cafe.

Opening hours are between 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.