Community Spotlight: InTown Centre and the Shoe String Café

Across the South West there are many quiet champions working every day to build stronger, more connected communities. One of those places is the InTown Centre, home of the Shoe String Café. Through their work, they provide practical support, welcoming spaces, and genuine human connection for people who may be doing it tough.

At its heart, the InTown Centre exists to support people who may be experiencing challenges such as homelessness, unemployment, loneliness, mental health struggles, poverty, or housing instability. Their focus is simple but powerful: creating a place where people feel welcome, respected, and valued.

The Shoe String Café operates as a community day centre, offering meals, support, and a safe space where people can come together. It is not just about providing food. It is about building caring relationships and encouraging people to feel part of the community again. The team works to support people to maintain their dignity, rebuild confidence, and strengthen their independence.

The impact of this work is clear in the numbers. In January alone, the centre supported the community in many ways:

• 1,205 services provided, including morning tea and meals
• 41 food hampers distributed to people needing extra support
• 23 Foodbank letters provided to help people access additional food relief
• 213 individual assistance interactions supporting people with different needs
• 10 new people accessing meals for the first time
• 12 new people receiving emergency relief support
• The centre operated across 19 trading days

Behind each number is a person, a story, and a moment of connection.

When we recently spoke with Leanne, the manager of the InTown Centre, she spoke passionately about the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and making sure people have ways to share information and stay connected to what is happening in their community.

Leanne highlighted that inclusion is not just about opening the doors of a venue. It also means thinking about the practical barriers people face. For example, when events are planned, people often forget to consider how someone will actually get there and how they will get home again. Transport, accessible information, and clear communication can make the difference between someone being able to participate or being left out.

Her passion for ensuring people are considered in community planning is a strong reminder that inclusion requires intention. It means asking questions, listening to lived experience, and making sure the whole community is part of the conversation.

What makes the InTown Centre so special is its commitment to creating a space where everyone is treated with respect and compassion. People are welcomed regardless of their age, background, or circumstances. The focus is on community, dignity, and participation.

For many people, places like the Shoe String Café become more than somewhere to eat. They become somewhere to belong.

As part of the D Connect network, the InTown Centre plays an important role in helping build stronger and more inclusive communities across the South West. By working together with local organisations, volunteers, and community members, they help ensure that people who may be feeling isolated still have somewhere to turn.

Community is not just about services. It is about people showing up for each other. The InTown Centre does exactly that every day.

We are proud to highlight the incredible work they are doing and the difference they continue to make in the lives of people across our region.

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