A NEW community space has opened in the Riverside Shopping Centre in Haverfordwest.

@No5 Riverside offers a community café, ‘Library of things’ and employment support.  

Known as ‘Caffi Cyfle’ (cyfle is the Welsh word for ‘opportunity’) the café is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. 

The café will also offer training and employment to people with barriers to employment including people with neurodiversity conditions.  

The Library of things offers people the opportunity to borrow items that they can’t afford or don’t want to buy. 

Western Telegraph: The new cafe in HaverfordwestThe new cafe in Haverfordwest

“The café will be a fantastic resource offering dedicated sessions to a wide range of community groups, including people with dementia or a learning disability, carers, and gentlemen’s groups,” said Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet member for social services.

Karen Davies, programme manager, said the café menu has been designed by Pembrokeshire’s neuro-diverse community.

“The simple hot menu is designed to provide meals suitable for people of all ages removing the food that is often left on the side of the plate,” she said.

People can borrow a wide range of things such as a gazebo, lawnmower, pressure washer, wheelbarrow, children’s games or fancy dress.  

Cllr Cris Tomos, cabinet member for the environment said: “The Library of Things is a fantastic opportunity for people in Pembrokeshire to contribute towards actions for the environment.”

The unit at No.5 Riverside stood empty for a number of years and took a significant investment to bring it back to life. Financial support was provided by a Circular Economy grant to support town centre regeneration from the Welsh Government.   

Riverside Shopping Centre Manager Nigel Stroper said he was delighted to welcome @No5 to the Riverside Shopping Centre.

“I have been so impressed with the efforts of all concerned with this enterprise which brings real points of difference to both the shopping centre and town centre.

Local county councillor Tom Tudor said it was a great initiative. “This is an excellent facility and very much welcomed for the centre of town. 

”We wish it every success.”