21/08/2026
Queen Camel Community Land Trust are aware of the message shared by Emma and her team on social media regarding their decision to leave the café at the Old School. We want to respond clearly and professionally to ensure our community has accurate information.
First and foremost, under no circumstances have we asked Emma or her team to leave. Any decision about their departure has been made by them alone. While there have been some differences in how we work together, we have continued to be supportive and have allowed Emma to run her café in whichever way she chooses.
We recognise that Emma has expressed concerns about how she feels she has been treated behind the scenes, and we strongly refute the suggestion that anyone at the Old School has acted in a way intended to undermine her or her business or create distress or upset. We have consistently aimed to maintain a respectful and constructive relationship.
As a long standing community organisation, we are proud of the strong reputation we have built over many years. The Old School is home to a vibrant community of tenants — most of whom have been with us for several years, and all contribute positively to the success of the Old School and the wider community. Their continued commitment reflects the supportive, respectful environment we work so hard to maintain.
We also want to be clear that it is not appropriate for us to continue discussing these matters publicly. Our responsibility is to communicate factually, respectfully, and in a way that protects the wellbeing of our tenants, staff, volunteers, and wider community. For that reason, this statement will serve as our only public comment on the situation.
We wish Emma and her team well and thank the community for their continued support and understanding.