Community cafe dedicated to supporting suicide and bereavement support group forced to close doors due to lack of space at Tom Mann Pavilion at Sconce and Devon Park

A café that was born to aid a bereavement support group had to close its doors, but it is hoped to reopen soon at a new location.

In 2024, Maxine Storer and Joanne Bower created the S.O.S Save Our Stevens support group in April, which has been running weekly at the Tom Mann Pavilion, Sconce and Devon Park, Newark.

The group aims to help people and their families affected by suicide, and signpost people to where they can get help.

The community cafe — Nesbitt’s Cafe — was created to raise money to support the support group, and it ran every Monday and Tuesday from 9am until 3.30pm at the Tom Mann Pavilion.

The inspiration for the group came from the loss of Maxine’s son and Joanne’s brother — Steven Line— who died by suicide on April 3, 2016.

The cafe’s last day at the pavilion was last Wednesday (September 3), as there was not enough room to host the football club and also the support group and the community café.

Maxine said that they are working together with Newark and Sherwood District Council to look for a new site for the café and the support group.

“At this time, I have made the decision to close the café.

“If another opportunity arises, then you never know, we could open somewhere else.

“The council are being amazing and supporting us to look for another building, they love what we do and do not want to lose this wonderful facility in our town.

“Love to every one of you that has supported us over the last 15 months, we will miss you all.”

A spokesperson at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “Nesbitt’s Café and community hub in Newark is an important part of our local community, as is Newark Town Football Club.

“As with any community group that needs additional help, we will do what we can to support them, and we are currently working with representatives of Nesbitt’s Café and Newark Town Football Club.”