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Hospitality at its finest – inclusive cafes
Although a percentage of disabled people are unemployed because they are unable to work, many members of the disabled community are restricted by barriers such as discrimination, lack of support and availability, employer concerns, attitudes, and stereotyping.
This is why KtoA Magazine wants to highlight examples of cafés and coffee shops which are working to improve accessibility and offer equal employment opportunities – leading the way in the hospitality sector.
Café Leep
26 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB
Café Leep is a not-for-profit Leeds-based café which supports adults with learning disabilities to gain work experience and catering qualifications.
They offer a training scheme for adults with a learning disability who want to learn how to work in catering. The scheme involves helping to run the café and studying for a NVQ Level 2 in Food Safety, as well as having fun and building confidence! The scheme encourages learners to:
• Cook and prepare food.
• Serve customers.
• Develop barista skills.
• Handle money and work tills.
• Work in a team.
Crocus Café
18 Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2ES
Crocus Café is Nottingham’s longest-running community café. It’s run by Real Lives, a not-for-profit social care company working across Nottinghamshire County who support clients with mental health and multiple needs. They offer voluntary placements at the Crocus Café to help build their confidence and promote community and social inclusion.
The café not only offers placement opportunities, but also serves vegetarian and vegan dishes with a focus on being fair trade and locally sourced. An all-rounder!
PROPS Café
The Vassall Centre, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
The PROPS Café is a space which serves and celebrates the diverse needs and perspectives of everyone in the community, especially those too often excluded from accessing public spaces.
They’ve partnered with local coffee roasters, Blind Owl Coffee, to source coffee as well as offer bespoke barista training to support PROPS trainees to work in the café. They also have catering project trainees who make their delicious baked goods.
The café has a vibrant atmosphere, and this is a reflection of the trainees’ hard work and dedication to hospitality.
www.propsbristol.org/props-cafe-a-spacefor-everyone-in-our-community
Fair Shot Café
3 Slingsby Place, London, WC2E 9AB
Fair Shot is a lively café and charity which seeks to improve the lives of young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism through equal employment opportunities and delicious coffee!
100% of Fair Shot sales get re-invested into enabling those with learning disabilities an equal and fair chance at finding and sustaining employment. To date, Fair Shot have supported thirty-six young adults out of unemployment, and a large majority of their learners are ready for a work environment thanks to the Fair Shot scheme.
Makers Café
Unit 3, Makers Village, Alloa, FK10 2DE
Makers Café is the community hub of the charity Scottish Autism, who provide vocational opportunities for people aged sixteen-and-over with autism and learning disabilities who may otherwise lack support and therefore struggle to thrive in work environments. It offers an inclusive environment where they can overcome barriers and engage in confidence-building workplace experiences.
Makers Café comprises a community cafe, shop, gallery, and kitchen garden. They also provide a varied programme of activities and opportunities, including curating their gallery.
