when a simple idea is given time to grow
how we moved from idea to reality
Common Grounds began as a desire to create a demonstration of welcome and community at a local level that also reaches out to the wider world with compassion and generosity. The idea resonated with many different people and we were overwhelmed with support from local businesses, volunteer labour and even a grant from the EU and then in September 2004 we opened to the public.
Common Grounds seeks to reflect values of hospitality, justice, generosity and compassion and in so-doing trust that we will find and enjoy common ground with the customers that make up the community that has evolved here.
We hope that this will become a vibrant hub in the centre of the Holylands; a place for meetings, for relationships to develop, for beauty to be fostered, companionship enjoyed over coffee and cinnamon scones, for difference to be appreciated and enjoyed.
Common Grounds is a not-for-profit business. We give away our profits to support humanitarian projects in the 2/3rds World and seek to raise awareness of issues that affect he global poor (Check out the current charity). We hope that as we ‘think global and act local’ lives would be enriched and inspired by what we have created here, and what we are continuing to create together.