The Future Of The Global Café

Dear RISC supporters,

We want to thank you for your patience and understanding regarding the ongoing closure of the Global Cafe.

RISC exists foremost as an education charity - profits from the World Shop, Global Refills, and meeting room hire all help to fund this mission. This was true of the Global Cafe as well.

Unfortunately, like so many businesses and organisations, we experienced the negative impact of hospitality closures during the pandemic.

Even now, hospitality remains a precarious sector, and the outside funding opportunities we once relied on have sadly become less and less over the years. At this time, we cannot afford to expose ourselves to the degree of financial risk the (current) reopening of the cafe would entail.

At present, we have no plans for music events. In time, there may be a cautious opening of the cafe following ongoing review of the covid situation.

We’re very much aware of the deep connection so many of you feel towards the Global Cafe - it was a true community hub, and we, too, feel a tremendous sadness at its absence from the social life of Reading.

Please be kind to our staff and volunteers during this time - they’re doing their best!