The Raise Van: Connection Café on Wheels — Our First Step in the Raise Journey

Written By Amy Holland

We’re so excited to introduce the Raise Van — the very first part of our wider Raise journey!

Raise encapsulates so much more than just a name.
It’s about:

Raising connections between families, people, and society
Raising voices that need to be heard
Raising awareness of the realities single parents face
Raising each other up through community and connection
Raising a community of support, the old saying ‘it takes a village’
Raising much needed funds for single parent families

This philosophy is at the heart of everything we do — and the Raise Van is where it all begins.



“Our mission has always been simple but powerful: to support, empower, and uplift single parent families across Wales. We know that isolation and loneliness are some of the biggest challenges they face - emotionally, socially, and practically. That’s why everything we do is rooted in connection, compassion, and community. Single parents aren’t just service users - they are the leaders, co-creators, and change-makers shaping what we do.

Even the Connection Café on Wheels was designed by our members, right down to the name and the coffee that’s being served today. This café is about meeting people where they are - literally - and showing up in a way that says: you are not alone, you are valued, and you belong.”

Amy Holland, Founder of Single Parents Wellbeing



The Raise Van: Connection Cafe on Wheels

The most visible of our options comes in the form of our camper and barista van.
Our Raise Van is a Connection Café on Wheels — a mobile community project designed to reduce loneliness, provide holistic wellbeing support, and build community through something as simple (and powerful) as a cuppa and a chat.

It brings Single Parents Wellbeing (SPW) directly to families across South and South West Wales — run by our single parent community, for our single parent community.




Why the Raise Van?

The Raise Van allows us to raise awareness in a mobile way, taking our message and mission out into the world — from festivals to corporate spaces to local communities. By being visible, approachable, and flexible, we can spark meaningful conversations, make holistic support more accessible, and connect with people we might never reach otherwise.




The Vision

Our vision is simple:

A mobile, inclusive, and supportive space that connects and uplifts single-parent families across Wales.

Through the Raise Van, we aim to:

  • Strengthen mental health and wellbeing

  • Break stigma around single parenting

  • Create sustainable income for SPW

  • Upskill volunteers and build employment pathways

  • Raise awareness of the challenges and strengths of single parents

And most importantly, do all this in a space filled with a what a cwtsh might feel like, which was the name given to our first ever space.




What Will We Offer?

Holistic Services:

  • 1:1 counselling and group therapy

  • Reiki, reflexology, yoga, sound baths

  • Walk-and-talks, nature connection, breathwork

  • Coaching, mindfulness, wellbeing workshops

  • Story massage, guided imagery, crystal healing

Café Offerings:

  • High-quality filtered coffee and a range of teas (including herbal)

  • Traditional Welsh cakes and light refreshments

  • Dairy and alternative milk options

  • Reusable mugs encouraged!

Community Engagement:

  • Local festivals, fun runs, and family meet-ups

  • Mental health events and holistic therapy tasters

  • Face painting and kids' activities

  • SPW project launches and partnership events

  • Corporate events and workshops

Volunteer Upskilling:

  • Barista training

  • Customer service and event support

  • Fundraising and hospitality

  • Transition pathways into employment


What Inspired This?

The Raise Van is rooted in:

  • Community need: Feedback from families showing isolation, stress, and lack of support

  • Policy alignment: Matches Welsh Government’s focus on mental health, resilience, and community connection

  • Pilot success: Our community has let us know the demand for mobile, accessible support

  • Data & evidence: Reports show single-parent families are disproportionately affected by poor mental health and isolation

  • Employment pathways: Volunteers gain real experience, training, and confidence

How It’s Being Built

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Clothworkers Foundation and support from Family Cymru Campers, and partnerships with Manumit Coffee and others, we’re well on our way.

We’ve sourced top-quality coffee, eco cups, and equipment. We’ve planned the branding, training, PR, and legal compliance. And we’ve designed it all to be sustainable, accessible, and ready to roll.


Our mobile café will serve:

  • Filtered coffee

  • Tea

  • Herbal tea

Every drink sold supports:

  • Holistic services

  • Volunteer training

  • SPW’s wider community work

And with low running costs and festival/event bookings, the van will also generate income through:

  • Corporate wellness events

  • Community partnerships

  • Fundraisers and campaigns


What’s Next?

The Raise Van is just the beginning of the Raise journey.
It’s our most visible symbol of what’s possible when you combine connection, creativity, and community care.

From festivals to corporate events to communities, we’ll be out there — serving warmth in every sense of the word.
Meeting single-parent families where they are and raising much need awareness and funds.




Want to get involved, partner, or support the Raise Van?
Get in touch at rachel.b@singleparentswellbeing.com

Amy Holland
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“I walked in anxious and walked out feeling like I belonged.” Raise Campaign- Zoe’s Story.
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“As a single parent community, we are really strong. We have to be for our kids. Over time you realise you’re actually capable of pretty much anything.” Raise Campaign- Naomi’s Story.