9.29°C The latest guest blog comes from Pete Hope of GO4 Market Cafe, based inside Holy Trinity Church on Trinity Street.
If you’ve ever stood behind a market stall in a biting northerly wind, you’ll understand why bringing “market” indoors feels like a win — even if the building itself isn’t always the warmest. The idea behind GO4 Market Cafe was simple: create a community of traders under one roof who could support one another while helping to incubate and develop new business ideas.
Turning that idea into reality inside a Grade I listed church has not been without its challenges. Lighting, heating and the sensitivities of operating within a historic building are ongoing considerations. But the aim has always been to create a welcoming, interesting marketplace that gives the public a reason to enjoy a building that stood empty for years.
GO4’s primary purpose is not simply retail — it is employment training and support for people out of work. Since launching in 2010, the organisation has worked with ex-offenders, the long-term unemployed and individuals facing mental health or other personal challenges. The focus is on rebuilding confidence, improving CVs and strengthening social skills through meaningful activity.
Many participants have moved into full-time employment elsewhere. Others have launched sole trader businesses or found paid roles within GO4, either in the café or through its gardening contracts.
Financially, GO4 has operated largely independently, receiving modest seed funding through Colchester Borough Council’s Enterprise Allowance scheme, but no major grants or long-term subsidy.
Within the market itself, 16 independent traders offer goods ranging from vintage items and Moroccan and Nepalese merchandise to Latin groceries and more. All trading activity supports GO4’s social aims. Some traders are shareholders and one sits on the board, ensuring the ethos of the enterprise is shared and sustained.
Over two years, nearly 30 people have received paid work across the GO4 portfolio, with more than 50 gaining volunteer or work experience placements.
A recent addition is Bodega La Iglesia, a wine bar within the church space that will create further opportunities for training and employment. The team is also exploring potential ventures in Old Heath and Jaywick.
GO4 Market Cafe operates with the support of Colchester Borough Council and a range of local partners, but its continued success relies on public support.
So next time you’re enjoying a coffee — or perhaps some tapas — inside Holy Trinity, you’re also contributing to a small independent social enterprise whose purpose is to create opportunity, restore confidence and offer people a genuine route back into work.
