Introducing Moonrakers’ Educafe at WSHC
Our warm and welcoming community space and café is up and running and takes place fortnightly at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. This years’ dates are (all are 10am-2pm): 11 May, 8 June, 22 June, 6 July, 20 July, 3 August, 17 August, 14 September, 28 September, 12 October, 26 October, 9 November, 23 November, 7 December, 21 December.
Our Vision
Moonrakers’ Educafe exists to provide a warm, welcoming and safe space where everyone is empowered to build confidence, connection, and belonging.
We invite people to share their unique strengths, skills, stories, cultures and creativity to help build a supportive and resilient community, together.
Community connection inspired by history and heritage.
What interests you, interests us!
Why ‘Moonrakers’’?
Wiltshire is a county rich in storytelling relating to the people, places and landscape of the county. We treasure these stories and at Moonrakers’ Educafe we put storytelling at the heart of what we do, sharing thoughts, ideas, experiences, old and new, to create a shared community space of belonging, together creating modern ‘Moonraking’ for the 21st century!
Who is Moonrakers’ Educafe for?
EVERYONE is welcome to join us at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre…
- Local residents, volunteers, and community members.
- Grandparents, carers, parents, and nannies.
- Young people, including those who are care experienced or neurodivergent.
- People new to the area, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and those who speak English as an additional language.
- People living with disabilities, long-term conditions, or other health related needs.
Children can attend with a supervising adult.
Whoever you are, whatever your background, you’re invited.
Moonrakers’ Educafe is a place to connect, feel included, and be part of our community.
Public services and other community/charity organisations wishing share information at the Educafe – please contact us to plan your first visit.
Read our constitution to learn about our vision, mission and values.
Join us
Our range of activities include knitting, jewellery making and crafting
There are opportunities to play traditional board games alongside our amazing Dungeons and Dragons game experience…
Or you are most welcome to sit quietly, soaking in the atmosphere with a good book to discover more about Wiltshire’s history
If you would like to practice your English, our ‘Chatty Corner’ sessions will be perfect for you
Moonrakers’ Café – take refreshment in a café setting serving hot and cold drinks, homemade cake and biscuits, giving even more opportunities to chat and make new friends. You are welcome to bring lunch with you if you would like to do so
Special events
Monday 6 July, 11am-1pm: Join Fee and Anesia to help turn Tetra packs into prints using a pasta maker press as Moonrakers’ Educafe celebrates the carnival coming to Chippenham. Consider what the carnival means to you, taking a look at carnival promotional material from the past to inspire you.
Anything goes, be bold and creative, and have fun getting into the summer spirit!
17 August, 11am-1pm: Join Anushka and Selina to continue our Carnival theme. In this workshop we will be thinking about culture, costume, mandalas, and how ‘pattern’ is created across cultures.
You will be able to take home with you a wonderful small scroll after you have experimented with a few techniques using patterns and colour. You will be encouraged to feel free and enjoy!
14 September, 11am-1pm: Explore how to create through imagination with Paul and Fee who will be on hand help you to create exciting 3D structures from coloured card, inspired by items in the History Centre’s collections. Local buildings and structures will be a starting point using primary colours. Fold, cut, bend – create!
Moonrakers’ Educafe Opening dates and times
Fortnightly on a Monday, 10.30am-2pm
Stay for as little or as long as you like
The Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre is a 5-minute walk from the railway station, accessible via buses 33, X31, X33, X34, 35, 35A, 44A, 44B, 44D, 44M, 55, 91, 92, 635
Code of Conduct
We expect all visitors, volunteers and partners to adhere to our Code of Conduct, available via this link at all times, including during in-person sessions and when engaging with us or with one another.
Newsletter
Read our latest Moonrakers’ Educafe Newsletter
!!Please note – Photography warning!!
We sometimes take photos and videos during sessions to help promote and fundraise for our activities.
If you’d prefer not to be included, kindly let a volunteer or member of staff know on the day.
Contact Us
For more information contact us at MoonrakersEducafe@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 01249 705500.
Additional Support
Accessibility and inclusion are a priority in everything we do.
For those who may feel a little anxious or unsure about what to expect, we have a buddying service to enable everyone make the most of their Moonrakers’ experience.
Contact us at MoonrakersEducafe@wiltshire.gov.uk or text ‘Buddy’ to 07570147393 to find out more.
More information on accessibility at the History Centre can be found via the following link https://wshc.org.uk/history-centre-accessibility/
Volunteer with Moonrakers’ Educafe
Volunteers are a valuable and essential part of what we do; we wouldn’t be able to run the Educafe without you. Would you like to become a valued member of the Moonrakers’ Educafe family?
Opportunities available include:
Welcome host/buddy/activity table leader – Welcome and value everyone you meet? Enjoy chatting with people from all walks of life? Care about creating a warm, friendly and supportive environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued?
Café host – do you enjoy working proactively behind the scenes, juggling tasks efficiently? Like to help things run smoothly? Enjoy being part of a small, supportive team?
Register your volunteering interest via MoonrakersEducafe@wiltshire.gov.uk and we will be in touch.
