A CLINICAL commissioning group has named a café manager as their community champion for the week.

The Mid Essex CCG has named Julie Taylor, who runs St Peter’s Café at the hospital on Spital Road, Maldon, as this week’s community champion.

The café is described as a ‘community hub’ and the ‘social heart of the hospital’ by people who use it.

Julie often encourages the use of the café as a meeting place for community organisations including the Maldon dementia group.

Charities in the region also have fundraising stalls in the café such as Farleigh Hospice, with no charge for group activity.

On top of this, the café serves as the staff canteen and a welcoming restaurant for both patients and visitors.

A spokesman for the CCG said: “Julie provides tasty, wholesome meals with many ingredients coming from local sources. Julie also ensures everybody is catered for, providing alternatives for allergy sufferers.

“A local user of the café is run as much as a social service as commercial activity.”

There are regular raffles with proceeds going to various charities, special events such as fish Fridays, entertainment specials and Christmas dinners and socials that Julie runs.

The spokesman added: “We’ve noticed that Julie has time for people, particularly lonely and vulnerable people whom she befriends and caters for their particular needs.

“The atmosphere brings local people to the café on a regular basis for their lunch, groups of friends are also made welcome.”