A café manager in Telegraph Hill has set out to raise £20,000 to help vulnerable people in the community.

Fifty-three-year-old Jacqui Shimidzu runs The Hill Station café on Kitto Road. After overcoming tough experiences in her own life, she uses the café to make a difference to others in need.

“I am a care leaver. I was in care for most of my life, which is probably why I do what I do,” she told News Shopper.

Tragically, Jacqui’s sister Helen was murdered when Jacqui was 23 years old. After the murder, she took in and raised Helen’s children.

“I come from a kind of struggle, so I think that’s what helps me help others. I have a sort of antenna for people who are struggling."

During her time in charge of the café, she has run several initiatives to help people– which have largely been self-subsidised.

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The Hill Station is a community cafe on Kitto Road, Telegraph Hill

“I thought the space could be such a resource for the community,” Jacqui, said. She and her friend, Stephen Carrick-Davies, took on the cafe in 2010.

“The first two years were a struggle. We were putting our own money into it, and I’ve been subsidising the café for about six years now.

“If you walked past, you would think it was just a café but we do a lot behind the scenes. That’s what the crowdfunder is for.”

After setting up the crowdfunder on Friday (May 24), the campaign has already raised more than £1,000.

The Hill Station’s community schemes include film nights for older people, game nights for autistic youngsters, and a partnership with Lewisham College to help young people with special educational needs into work.

This Sunday, the staff are also gearing up for the Big Lunch event, which invites people to come and eat between 1-6pm and bring dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Jacqui has just taken on two permanent staff members from Lewisham College after training them for the past year – Frankie and Kelechi.

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Frankie and Kelechi, pictured on a staff day out in Margate, have just been offered permanent jobs at The Hill Station

In a video made for the café, Frankie said: “I was very proud of myself and very excited.

“I love The Hill Station because it’s a relaxing place,” he said, adding that he even comes in on his day off to see the staff and customers.

Marvelling at her new staff members, Jacqui praised the “lovely” pair for their progression over the last few months.

“They really have come on leaps and bounds,” she told News Shopper.

When Jacqui offered Kelechi a full-time job, she invited Kelechi’s adoptive mother, Linda, to see her daughter at work.

“Kelechi served a customer in front of her mum, and her mum just started crying. She said, ‘I never thought she’d get to this stage’,” Jacqui told News Shopper.

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The team are asking for people to 'lend us a hand' in donating to the crowdfunder

Jacqui explained how almost every single staff member has come to the café needing a helping hand. And after pulling through her own struggles, she wants to give them the support they need.

“You’ve been through it, so you know what it feels like for other people,” she said.