Buttercup receives National Lottery boost for its next chapter

We have secured £18,000 from National Lottery Awards for All to help protect and strengthen our town-centre community cafe in Knaresborough.

The funding will support Buttercup’s next stage of development as a warm, informal civic room where people can meet, share food, exchange ideas and find support in a friendly setting. Based in the heart of the town, Buttercup has quickly become an important local space for people who may feel isolated, excluded or less comfortable in more commercial settings.

The award will help cover essential running costs and support the development of the café’s wider community role, including volunteer activity, local signposting, small gatherings and future uses of the flexible rooms above the café.

Buttercup operates on a “pay as you feel” basis, creating a welcoming place where people can come together without financial pressure. The café is already used by a wide mix of local people, community groups and support networks, and the funding will help give the project a more secure foundation as it grows.

Bill Rigby, CIC director for Buttercup said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this support from National Lottery Awards for All. Buttercup is a small place, but it means a great deal to many people. This funding gives us the breathing space to secure the base, support the people who use it and develop the café as a generous, welcoming civic room for Knaresborough.”

The project will run through to September 2027, helping Buttercup continue to provide a safe, friendly and useful space for the town.