A MALDON cafe has joined a project to make the dreams of older people come true.

Suzie’s Gift and Tea Shop in High Street is now part of the Wishing Washing Line project by the FaNs Network.

This allows the business to set up a washing line where residents from care homes can put their wishes on display.

Friends and neighbours of the community can then grant that wish through funding or arranging projects.

Cafe owner Suzie Pugh said: “The idea is to encourage customers to read the wishes and if they find an interest shared with a like-minded older person, or can grant a very simple wish, they contact the relevant care home and arrange for the wish to be granted.

“I saw a post by FaNs Network, sharing some wishes of local care homes and it really touched me how sweet and innocent the wishes were.

“I got in contact with organiser Tony Lee and suggested that the tea shop could have a wishing washing line to which he agreed.

“We already run Kindness in a Cup, which is a community friendship group, and we love helping and caring for people so it feels so good to be getting involved in such a worthy cause.

“It’s as straightforward as that. Making small wishes come true one at a time.”

This will be the 11th washing line set up in Essex.

Community Networks Lead Tony Lee says a possible hundred wishes could be granted thanks to Suzie’s work.

Mr Lee said: “The whole initiative could not work without people like Suzie.

“The lines are normally reserved for big chains and companies because at lot of hard work goes into doing this.

“What she is doing is way above and beyond so a wholehearted thank you to her and the work she is doing for us.

“She is much loved and much respected in the community.

“Even if ten care homes join in, if we get ten wishes from ten care homes, we could grant up to 100 wishes.”

There are currently lines set up in Harwich, Clacton, Colchester, Braintree, and Maldon in venues such as council offices, churches and Tesco stores.

The line is set to be installed by February.