Open Door
Open Door
Open Door is the vision of the Selkirk Parish Church family, reaching out to the community to share God’s love through action and welcome, making use of our comfortable hall and upgraded kitchen. The Church of Scotland’s “Go For It” fund generously helped us with start up costs.
Open Door’s ethos is to be a place of relaxation, especially for those who might be isolated or lonely in the community. If this project resonates with you and you would like to be involved in any way, please let us know.
Our logo plainly states our aims “food and friendship” and we know that giving people a friendly welcome and time to linger or chat over coffee/lunch is invaluable. Open Door provides excellent value, home-cooked food for the body, and company for the mind and spirit. We opened to the community in early October 2016 and are now open every Monday: 10.30am-11.30 (coffee/tea and baking)and 12.00 – 1.00 pm (lunch). Most of the food comes from the FairShare initiative, using food which would otherwise be destined for landfill.
New ventures feel risky and there are always challenges to meet, but so far our “Open Door” café is going well and we are encouraged by our customers’ comments; “great value and lovely food”, “I fair enjoyed myself”, “great idea for the community”, all good news!
Invite a neighbour or a friend or even consider becoming a volunteer yourself!
- Holiday at Home 2026
Holiday at Home 2026 – Down on the Farm
We had a great time at the beginning of July at Holiday at Home, with 30 volunteers making the 3 days such a fun, safe and thought-provoking holiday for our 52 guests. Each Thought for the Day was based around Bible verses on the theme of grapevines and wine and the hall was decorated with very varied farming scenes. Special guests for our workshops included Rosemary and Tim from Synton Mains, Angus the beekeeper, Joanna with wool felting, Susan from Yarrow, Sheila with the parachute for some gentle exercise, Amy led interactive Bible studies also on the farming theme, and Lewis from Selkirk High School.
All the activities, choices and games were hands-on and participative, allowing plenty of time for chatting, laughing, reminiscing and asking questions of our guests. As always, the sing-a-long was very popular and we all enjoyed the specially written theme song. The days were catered for by our wonderful kitchen team headed up by Gill. All the guests enjoyed morning coffee, 2 course lunch and an afternoon cuppa and cake. Each day finished with one of the team sharing a personal story of faith with a farming link before we all sang the Northumberland blessing.
Our aim was for everyone to go home, their spirits lifted by shared food and fun and with faith strengthened. We give thanks to God for our 3 days together.
- Building the Future exhibition
Building the Future Exhibition
Friday 24th October, 2-4 and 6-8pm
All welcome
- New Kitchen Grand Opening
- Holiday@Home 2025
- Kitchen upgrade
Kitchen upgrade progress, June 2025
The kitchen redevelopment is moving ahead well. The builders moved in on the 18th May, and quickly demolished the wall between the old kitchen and the old office. (Ruth’s office is now in the former meeting room). By the end of week 1, the demolition (internal wall) and rebuilding work was completed, and the plumbers and electricians were movng ahead with their wires and pipes!
Next, the joiners came in to tidy up the new hatch, doorway and box in pipes. They have done a great job of retaining most of the cupboard in the corridor, lowering its top to provide a serving hatch (for further use, once that area is converted into a social space). Last week, the plasterers and painters took over, and the whole new space is looking great.
This week, the new flooring will be laid, and then the sinks, worktables and storage units will be installed. We hope the new kitchen will be ready for us before the end of June.
All this has been possible, thanks to everyone’s fund-raising efforts over the last few months (£13,000 raised) and grants from Scottish Borders Council (£8,000) and the National Churches Trust (£15,000), and to the brilliant work of MEH Builders and Joiners and their sub-contractors. Thanks also to Gill and Phil Boyes, who helped in the design and sourcing of quality commercial kitchen fittings.
- Holiday at Home: 10-12 July 2024
There are still a few spaces – if you want to come along, you need to book a place. You can download a booking form, or email myraward@gmail.com for more information.
- Needles and Pins
Celebrating one year of Needles and Pins. Come along on Mondays at 10am and enjoy refreshments, chat and making nice things to share with the wider community eg Borders Carers, Thornfield House, BGH and Hats for the Homeless. All welcome, learners too!
- Open Door Christmas Lunch 2023
We had a great Christmas lunch last Monday with a full hall, lots of daftness, Saint Andrew (AKA Santa) arrived with goodies, food and chat. Thank you everyone for coming and eating, helping and adding to the event. I think we counted 52 guests and about 20 of us volunteers. The food was delicious and very much appreciated. Myra
- church garden 2020
church garden ready for 2020
The church garden is in good shape. Hopefully, by the time these vegetables are ready to beharvested, Open Door will be up and running again!
Continue reading → - Philiphaugh Community Project – summer 2019
Working in partnership with SBC Community Learning and Development team at Philiphaugh, the Open Door team have committed to providing a lunch for children and families every Thursday during the school summer holidays. Where possible, food obtained from FareShare is being used.
a busy room full of happy people eating and chatting Week 3 (July 18th) report: 40 adults and kids had a ball today with crafts, outdoor activities at the rugby club followed by food. Good to be on holiday from school! Our Open Door cafe volunteers enjoyed chatting, making wooly pompoms and providing food for us all. Thanks to one and all!
preparing the lunch 
