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| Activists stormed my Blighty cafe. But we’re about community, not colonialism | Activists stormed my Blighty cafe. But we’re about community, not colonialism |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| We have a breakfast called the Winston but we don’t endorse Churchill’s wrongs. Protesters should join me for a coffee | |
| Wed 31 Jan 2018 10.20 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 31 Jan 2018 12.57 GMT | |
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| On Saturday, our humble community cafe, Blighty, was targeted by protesters; you may have read about it in the news. Those who occupied the cafe claim that we are celebrating colonialism, something that I would strongly refute. I’m obviously disappointed that my business could have offended people in such a way, and equally saddened to hear that the protesters may have been subsequently harassed online. We could do with some restraint from all sides in what appears to have become a needlessly fraught debate. The students are well within their rights to disagree with the theme of our business, and I’d be happy to invite them in to discuss those issues sometime soon. | On Saturday, our humble community cafe, Blighty, was targeted by protesters; you may have read about it in the news. Those who occupied the cafe claim that we are celebrating colonialism, something that I would strongly refute. I’m obviously disappointed that my business could have offended people in such a way, and equally saddened to hear that the protesters may have been subsequently harassed online. We could do with some restraint from all sides in what appears to have become a needlessly fraught debate. The students are well within their rights to disagree with the theme of our business, and I’d be happy to invite them in to discuss those issues sometime soon. |
| Some background: I opened Blighty Cafe in 2013 and its sister charity, Blighty Arts in 2014. Together they have served the community of Finsbury Park, north London, for five years. We are not simply somewhere to pick up some avocado toast and a skinny flat white (although you’re more than welcome to) – we are a hub for creativity, entrepreneurship and, most importantly, charity. Upstairs at Blighty we have a workspace full of interesting businesses and local people. We hold yoga, life drawing and comedy events. We are more than just a “themed cafe” as has been reported. | Some background: I opened Blighty Cafe in 2013 and its sister charity, Blighty Arts in 2014. Together they have served the community of Finsbury Park, north London, for five years. We are not simply somewhere to pick up some avocado toast and a skinny flat white (although you’re more than welcome to) – we are a hub for creativity, entrepreneurship and, most importantly, charity. Upstairs at Blighty we have a workspace full of interesting businesses and local people. We hold yoga, life drawing and comedy events. We are more than just a “themed cafe” as has been reported. |
| We provide offices for entrepreneurs, creatives and small businesses. All the profits raised are then given as microfinance or “good faith” loans to some of the poorest people in society who want to start their own business. We’ve helped nearly 200 women in rural India start their own business, with all loans paid forward to the next person who needs assistance. We also provide desks and services at cost to young entrepreneurs in the UK who need help getting started, with plans to extend our microfinance loans to the would-be self-employed among the UK’s homeless population. This isn’t just another trendy coffee shop. | We provide offices for entrepreneurs, creatives and small businesses. All the profits raised are then given as microfinance or “good faith” loans to some of the poorest people in society who want to start their own business. We’ve helped nearly 200 women in rural India start their own business, with all loans paid forward to the next person who needs assistance. We also provide desks and services at cost to young entrepreneurs in the UK who need help getting started, with plans to extend our microfinance loans to the would-be self-employed among the UK’s homeless population. This isn’t just another trendy coffee shop. |
| We have created a community that is rare to find in this city, and is special to Blighty and everyone who visits and works here. Our wonderful staff all live locally and are diverse in their nationalities, opinions, beliefs and customs. | We have created a community that is rare to find in this city, and is special to Blighty and everyone who visits and works here. Our wonderful staff all live locally and are diverse in their nationalities, opinions, beliefs and customs. |
| The protesters have suggested we are supporting colonialism, or any past wrongdoing of Winston Churchill. It’s an accusation that is both wrong and upsetting for everyone involved with Blighty. Yes, we are celebrating Britain, and we are celebrating Britain’s relationship with the world – especially with the other Commonwealth countries. But the means by which that Commonwealth came about need not be a part of that celebration. We reflect on both the good and the bad of Britain’s past. Like it or not, Britain is still strongly connected with places in which we perpetrated horrible wrongs, it would only exacerbate that if we were to turn our backs on those relationship. | The protesters have suggested we are supporting colonialism, or any past wrongdoing of Winston Churchill. It’s an accusation that is both wrong and upsetting for everyone involved with Blighty. Yes, we are celebrating Britain, and we are celebrating Britain’s relationship with the world – especially with the other Commonwealth countries. But the means by which that Commonwealth came about need not be a part of that celebration. We reflect on both the good and the bad of Britain’s past. Like it or not, Britain is still strongly connected with places in which we perpetrated horrible wrongs, it would only exacerbate that if we were to turn our backs on those relationship. |
| Our full English might be called The Winston – but that hardly makes us celebrators of colonialism. Churchill was, after all, named top when the BBC chose the 100 greatest Britons. He may not be an uncontroversial figure, I’m sure his wrongs are numerous, but we cannot erase him from our history. | Our full English might be called The Winston – but that hardly makes us celebrators of colonialism. Churchill was, after all, named top when the BBC chose the 100 greatest Britons. He may not be an uncontroversial figure, I’m sure his wrongs are numerous, but we cannot erase him from our history. |
| We take our duty as a responsible business seriously. The Winston uses meat from Godfreys, our local Highbury butcher. We source our coffee beans directly from Commonwealth countries, and have self-financed two microfinance programmes in Rwanda and India, lending money to women who need small business loans. I went to Rwanda last year with my co-worker. Two other members of the team went to India the year before. We are real people trying to do real good in the world. | We take our duty as a responsible business seriously. The Winston uses meat from Godfreys, our local Highbury butcher. We source our coffee beans directly from Commonwealth countries, and have self-financed two microfinance programmes in Rwanda and India, lending money to women who need small business loans. I went to Rwanda last year with my co-worker. Two other members of the team went to India the year before. We are real people trying to do real good in the world. |
| Yes, we are proud of our Britishness. We like Britain, its icons, its self-deprecating humour and we recognise all of its faults. That means we will not shy away from our imperfect history and will continue to work hard to ensure Blighty remains a positive source for good in the world – celebrating people, nations and humanity in all its wonderful forms. We are a multicultural, progressive modern-day Blighty – much as I hope this country can become. | Yes, we are proud of our Britishness. We like Britain, its icons, its self-deprecating humour and we recognise all of its faults. That means we will not shy away from our imperfect history and will continue to work hard to ensure Blighty remains a positive source for good in the world – celebrating people, nations and humanity in all its wonderful forms. We are a multicultural, progressive modern-day Blighty – much as I hope this country can become. |
| • Chris Evans is the founder of Blighty Cafe in London | • Chris Evans is the founder of Blighty Cafe in London |
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