CHRISTMAS came early this week for four local charities when hard-working volunteers at the Beanfeast Cafe at Dumbarton Sheriff Court handed over £11,000.

Each year, all proceeds from sales of coffees, biscuits, sandwiches and home baking at the court cafe, are distributed to local charities and other organisations which help vulnerable and needy children in the area.

This year the cafe raised £11,000, which this week was divided among CHAS, Kilpatrick School, Parklands School in Helensburgh and the Gareloch branch of Riding for the Disabled.

Organiser Gillian Climie said: “We are entirely staffed by volunteers. Approximately 15 volunteers are currently involved. Most volunteers work one morning a week or one morning a fortnight, but volunteers are free to work more frequently, or less frequently, depending on the time they have available. Normally the cafe is staffed with a minimum of two volunteers per session.”

The cafe, which opens from 9am to 1.30pm each day Monday to Friday, is available to everyone using the court building.

“We are also delighted to welcome members of the public who call into the court just to visit the cafe,” added Gillian.

There has been a cafe within Dumbarton Sheriff Court since at least the 1980’s. It was originally operated by the ladies of the local WRVS branch.

In 2002, the WRVS decided to withdraw from running refreshment facilities within all courthouses in Scotland. A number of the Dumbarton Sheriff Court WRVS volunteers led by Georgie Duncan MBE approached the Sheriff Clerk at Dumbarton to see if anything could be done to keep the refreshment facility within the courthouse operating.

The sheriff clerk at Dumbarton was, at the time, Fiona Petrie, now Fiona Fraser, since retired and currently one of the volunteers at Dumbarton.

“Fiona was aware that Paisley solicitor Charlie McCusker had recently formed a registered charity called Beanfeast to raise funds for local organisations helping vulnerable and needy children,” explained Gillian.

Beanfeast had already taken over the running of the court cafes at Paisley and Greenock sheriff courts. Fiona made contact with Charlie and he agreed Beanfeast would take over the running of the Dumbarton Sheriff Court cafe.

The day-to-day running of the cafe at Dumbarton is carried out by a body of local volunteers.

In late 2006, the Dumbarton Sheriff Court building closed for complete internal refurbishment and the court was decanted into temporary premises in a modern building at the corner of High Street/Church Street. Although space was very limited, the cafe was able to continue to operate in the temporary premises throughout the period of the decant.

The modernised Dumbarton Sheriff Court building re-opened for business in February 2009, with a completely rebuilt, extended and re-designed interior but maintaining the external facade and many of the internal historical features of the original building.

The design of the revamped courthouse completed in 2009 included a purpose-built room for the cafe on the ground floor of the building, adjacent to the main public entrance to the court and the reception area.

The cafe facilities include a seating area with tables and chairs for customers, a serving area and servery and a stockroom.

The cafe has continued to operate in the refurbished facilities under the umbrella of the Beanfeast charity.

Gillian added: “We are always looking for new volunteers and anyone interested in being involved should contact me as soon as possible.”

Anyone interested in helping out their worthwhile cause should contact Gillian on 07403036035 or by email to n.luce49@gmail.com.