A NEW charity tea room and café has opened at a community centre in Rhyl later this month.

Storm in a Teacup, based at Ffordd Las Community Centre, hosted a “showcase and sugar hit” private soft launch event on Friday, January 12.

James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, and Cllr Cheryl Williams, the deputy mayor of Rhyl, officiated the opening, before it fully opens to the public on Monday, January 22.

Refreshments and “sweet treats” will also be available at the café, with those visiting encouraged to “pay it forward” if they are happy to make financial contributions.

There will also be a “chatter and natter” table dedicated to people suffering from loneliness.

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Rhyl Journal: The Storm in a Teacup cafe The Storm in a Teacup cafe (Image: Submitted)

Behind the café are Emma and Margaret Elliott, who want to use the café to help those with housing and accommodation issues in particular.

They said: “Our mission is not only to provide a new and unique user-friendly charity café, with both a compassionate and personal touch, but to offer a setting that promotes both wellbeing and inclusivity in a positive and respectful environment.

“We are so very excited that our welcoming safe space café has finally come to fruition, and that we can share this opportunity to showcase our project.”

Emma was a saleswoman who, after experiencing some ”personal trauma” in Dubai last April, moved back to Rhyl and found herself homeless.

Along with her mother, and son Storm, whom she named the cafe after, she spent months working on the new hub in preparation for its official opening.

She also aims to help people who are looking to get back into work by offering work experience.

Emma said: “It has always been my dream to open a cafe and I always knew that when I eventually did it would be named ‘Storm in a Teacup’ after my lovely son Storm.

“I can’t quite believe that we are where we are today. My aim was to create a safe space for the whole community that promotes wellbeing and inclusivity, and I believe that’s what we have achieved.

“All the food that we will sell will come from the Rhyl based community bakery, ‘Use Your Loaf’, and we will also use local and start-up businesses in a bid to promote them. I’m not in this for the money, I just want to give back.

“The primary purpose is to provide a safe space. We have a no purchase mandatory policy so that if someone has no money, they can still come to the cafe and sit.

“Since being homeless and living in temporary accommodation, I have learnt so much about addiction.

“I want to help people get off that revolving door, so that they feel strong enough to make the changes needed to get back on track.”

Storm in a Teacup will be open Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm from January 22.