Café Delight & East Marsh Community Space
Founders: Rebecca Munson & Kerrie Bennett
Location: Pasture Street, Grimsby
What started as a simple idea—providing affordable school uniforms—has grown into one of the most loved and vital community hubs in East Marsh.
Founded by friends and community champions Rebecca Munson and Kerrie Bennett, Café Delight and East Marsh Community Space now serves hundreds of local people each week with everything from sensory play and childrens haircuts, to craft groups, support sessions, hot meals, and community events.
But their journey wasn’t planned. It unfolded by listening deeply to local people.
> “We started as the Uniform Hut,” Kerrie explains. “Then families started asking for back-to-school haircuts. Then they started telling us what else they needed… so we just kept building.”
Their first big leap came when they took over the old JC Cook bike shop on Pasture Street. From a few second-hand rails of school clothes and some borrowed furniture, the pair have grown their organisation floor by floor—literally. Upstairs now hosts a pamper room, a party space, therapy sessions, and rooms for local youth and community groups.
A Safe Space for All Ages and Abilities
At the heart of the hub is Café Delight—a friendly, inclusive space offering hot food, soft play, and a place to belong. It’s not just for parents and children. Everyone is welcome. Older people, volunteers, SEND families, care leavers, and schoolchildren all drop in regularly, creating a genuine mix of ages and backgrounds under one roof.
> “We’ve got kids who used to be brought in by the school—now they come back of their own accord. They feel safe here,” says Rebecca. “This place gives them confidence, community, and routine.”
In a neighbourhood that has often lacked accessible and affordable support services, Café Delight fills the gaps—quietly, consistently, and without judgement.
Local schools and organisations now regularly refer people to Rebecca and Kerrie. Children from Park House come in for cookery lessons. Care leavers use the hub for their monthly group. SEND children can get haircuts in a sensory-aware environment. Older residents come for their meals—and for a chat.
> “People always say it’s a safe space. That they’re not judged. That matters so much.”
Community Collaboration in Action
Rebecca and Kerrie don’t work in isolation. They believe in collaboration—and the hub has become a trusted partner for other grassroots groups.
From Simply Dance and Sensory Gym sessions, to craft clubs, language classes, cardiac cafés, and mental health therapy workshops, the hub is home to a diverse calendar of activities and events, many of which are run in partnership with others.
> “We’re stronger when we work together,” Kerry says. “We just give people the space—and they make it happen.”
They’ve also launched a freezer meal delivery service, taking low-cost home-cooked meals to families as far out as Waltham and Laceby, ensuring that food insecurity and transport issues don’t prevent people from getting help.
Powered by Volunteers & Pure Graft
Café Delight isn’t funded by a big pot of money. It runs on hard work, donations, small grants, and the kindness of local people and businesses.
Support from North East Lincs Council helped get the kitchen up and running. Ørsted provided £3,000 to support families over the summer holidays. Local businesses like Winner Winner Chicken Dinner and a local recycling firm have stepped in when they could.
But the majority of the day-to-day running costs are covered by income from workwear sales, pamper parties, tabletop fundraisers, and café proceeds.
Volunteers are a vital part of the team. Some started as anxious participants and are now confident regulars. The founders’ own children help on Saturdays and in the holidays. It’s a family affair in every sense.
> “We’d do this for free if we could,” Rebecca admits. “But we’ve got to keep the lights on.”
The Impact: More Than a Building
The stories of impact are everywhere.
✔️An anxious mum who now volunteers and chats in the café every day.
✔️SEND families who’ve made real friendships and found community.
✔️Young people who used to be referred via school now dropping by on their own.
✔️Seniors escaping loneliness with hot food and warm conversation.
✔️Grandparents raising children finding mutual support in new groups.
> “It’s not just about what we do—it’s how people feel when they come here,” Kerry says. “And that’s what keeps us going.”
What’s Next: An Accessible Toilet—and a Bigger Vision
Right now, Rebecca and Kerrie are raising £6,000 to install a fully accessible toilet and changing facility on the ground floor.
The space is wide enough for wheelchair users, but the lack of a proper accessible toilet is a real barrier—especially for children with additional needs who can’t be changed upstairs.
They’re running tabletop sales, raffles, and a community fun day to raise the funds, but they’re hoping that local businesses will step in too—whether through donations, fundraising days, or spreading the word.
> “Even £50 helps,” says Rebecca. “If we all chip in, we can get this done—and make the hub truly accessible for everyone.”
Longer term, the duo hope to expand into a bigger building—but they’re clear they want to stay rooted in the East Marsh.>
An update from Rebecca and Kerrie.
The funding has been raised for the fully accessible toilet and changing facility. Chaoss - The Chaotic Community has helped make this happen and work will start on the 20th of October.
What a great achievement, congratulations.