WJ Group supports High Wycombe community café ahead of 10-year milestone

WJ Group, a road marking and highway safety specialist based in Milton Keynes, is supporting a community café in High Wycombe as it prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

Hills Café, which operates as a community enterprise supporting residents in the area, is working with WJ Group and Buckinghamshire Highways Alliance to improve its facilities.

Hills Café is a subsidiary of the One Can Trust, who has their community support offices above the café. Visitors to the café can also access food support, (with a pantry onsite) making it a key point of contact for people in need. 

Together, Hills Café and One Can Trust provide a safe inviting location for a wide range of services, including a Wednesday community cafe, community activities such as a previous homework club and a warm space during colder months.

The café also offers a range of support for local residents, including employment opportunities for people who may otherwise struggle to find work, such as parents needing flexible hours and young people outside of education.

The relationship between WJ and Hills Café started in 2024, when WJ carried out work on parking and access markings outside the café after it was introduced through Balfour Beatty Living Places. 

The work helped address issues with vehicles blocking access along the busy stretch of shops and housing where the café is located as well as providing safe access. Since then, the partnership has continued, leading to further support as the café marks a decade of serving the local community.

As part of the anniversary plans, WJ organised a volunteer day to repaint the interior of the café, helping to refresh the space and bring it in line with updated branding. The project forms part of WJ’s Thinking Community initiative, which encourages staff to support local causes. Further work with the café is expected as the partnership continues.

Georgia Broughton, Sustainability Advisor at WJ said: “Hills Café plays an important role locally, and this is a practical way for us to support what they’re doing. By working with Buckinghamshire Highways Alliance, we’re able to make a bigger difference than we could on our own.”

Natalie Edwards, Manager of Hills Café, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the recent refresh carried out by the team: “On behalf of all our staff and directors, we would like to say a huge thank you for carrying out a much‑needed refresh of the paint at the café. 

“It has brightened the space and helps it continue to be the warm, inviting place our local community and customers rely on. This is something we wouldn’t have been able to do without the kindness and hard work your team showed. Thank you again from all at Hills Café.”

Sonya Batchelor, CEO of One Can Trust, added: “A huge thank-you to all. A fresh coat of paint can brighten walls, but a community coming together can brighten an entire neighbourhood.”