A pop-up café has opened on Portland giving asylum seekers a space to engage with the community. 

Portland Parish is running a "Baran Café" which is held every Monday at St John the Baptist Church, serving Middle Eastern style food and drink. 

Around 50 to 60 members of the public gathered on its opening day to show their support for the members of the Bibby Stockholm barge, which is providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers at Portland Harbour.

They also got to try a dessert called Baluza – an orange and milk pudding - made by a Syrian resident on the barge who is a professional chef. 

Members of the public gather at Baran Café on PortlandMembers of the public gather at Baran Café on Portland (Image: Portland Parish)

A £1.7k grant from Dorset Council was awarded to the parish in September, which was designed to support asylum seekers residing on the barge by providing activities to promote wellbeing and community integration.

The Reverend Tim Gomm, the Rector of Portland, discussed ideas with 15 Christians from the barge back in June. The group came up with the idea for a café as two of the men were professional chefs.

He said: "They enjoy cooking for relaxation. Also being on the barge can be quite boring for them so we thought a café would be a great idea to do something they love.

Members of the public gather at Baran Café on PortlandMembers of the public gather at Baran Café on Portland (Image: Portland Parish)

"Another reason is because many haven't interacted with the general public so this helps them meet new people."

Many of the group have been moved on from the Portland area following the government's decision back in July to close the Bibby Stockholm barge. It will start shutting down at the end of November. 

READ MORE: Bibby Stockholm barge to close in Dorset, Home Office says
 

Dorset Council since confirmed that none of the asylum seekers currently housed there will be moved to Portland, Weymouth or the wider Dorset Council area. Instead they will be dispersed across the country. 

Rev Gomm said the café will continue to run every Monday as long as there are people still on the barge to support residents through the transition. 

He added: "It's like a safe space for them. It means a lot to me that people understand other people and their culture. I have travelled all over the world in my younger days and I have learnt so much from other people.

"Until the barge is empty Rev Jo Haine – the Rural Dean of Weymouth and Portland and I will continue to visit the Barge and hopefully bring encouragement and hope to these men who follow Jesus Christ."