UK’s first community bank coffee shop launches in the North East

The UK’s first combined community bank and coffee shop has opened today in the North East.

The Footprints Café opened today (Friday 30 August) within the South Tees Community Bank in Redcar.

Situated in the seaside town’s high street, The Footprints Café secured £10k from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to launch the venture.

Ruth Fox, chief executive officer of Footprints in the Community, explained: “We received funding from the council to enable us to go forward with this project.

“We’ve formed a great partnership with the new South Tees Community Bank and became the first Community Bank and Cafe in the UK.”

Symon Agnew, chief executive officer of South Tees Community Bank operator Moneywise Credit Union, added: “The South Tees Community bank is aimed to help people in the community with their financial needs and wants to help community groups such as Footprints in delivering their goals.

“When we first talked about the bank being at the current site we did think about operating a café, so when we met Footprints and heard of their plans it seemed like a perfect opportunity to explore this project together.

“It’s fantastic that they have been able to set the café up and now once our members have been served by us they can be served by Footprints for a quick cuppa.”