Those heading out to support Suffolk's most isolated villages will not be deterred by the £80,000 target needed to replace their vans after a recent blowout on the A11.

This year, The Rural Coffee Caravan marks its 20th birthday and will celebrate helping thousands of people make friends, volunteer in their community, remain living independently, or gain access to welfare benefits, information, and other specialist services.    

The charity owns four caravans, with two of them, Audrey and Lottie, needing frequent repairs. 

Recently, Audrey suffered a dramatic blowout on the A11, so the charity decided to raise funds for a new vehicle. 

Its CEO said despite the large target needed "letting people down is not in our DNA". 

CEO Ann Osborn said: "The impact ripped the entire skirt off one side and damaged the bodywork, front and rear.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ann Osborn, the Rural Coffee Caravan CEO, Rural Coffee Caravan Ann Osborn, the Rural Coffee Caravan CEO, Rural Coffee Caravan (Image: Rural Coffee Caravan)

"Initially thought a write-off, she is actually roadworthy for now, after some clever repairs, but the blowout also revealed other issues and she just has to be replaced.  

"We have been extremely fortunate to have secured funding for this and are actively looking for the right Audrey Mark Two." 

East Anglian Daily Times: Audrey after the blowout on the A11, Rural Coffee Caravan Audrey after the blowout on the A11, Rural Coffee Caravan (Image: Rural Coffee Caravan)

The Rural Coffee Caravan set a goal to fundraise £80,000 to replace Audrey as well as Lottie, which is coming to the end of her useful life. 

The charity has already collected almost £53,000 and asks the local community to help raise the rest through their fundraising page. 

Ms Osborn added: "We have worked so hard to find funding to have four vehicles on the road.   

"It means we can answer requests for visits from anywhere in the county.  

"To have to drop down to three would mean we just couldn’t do what we are doing now, and so many rural residents would miss out on our visits.  

East Anglian Daily Times: Audrey in Alpheton, Rural Coffee Caravan Audrey in Alpheton, Rural Coffee Caravan (Image: Rural Coffee Caravan) "Loneliness is an ever-increasing scourge, and we live in a world where addressing it is a challenge.  

"We meet that challenge in a way no other organisation can, by being able to bring a social space to a rural place. 

"Our visits facilitate the creation or strengthening of vital human connections, and they empower by providing a route into services and support that can help people live happy healthy independent lives."