Café offers pathway to new living skills (From York Press)
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Café offers pathway to new living skills
9:08am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News
Sam Reynolds, left, and Pam Manson in the new café
A NEW community café has opened in The Groves, York, run by people with learning disabilities.
Developed through a Small Sparks grant provided by the charity United Response, Groves Café is open from 11.30am to 1.30pm during term time and offers an array of fresh, homemade dishes catering to local residents.
On Wednesdays, it offers entertainment through craft and music sessions for its customers.
Chris, one of the café managers, said: “I have learned to be responsible for Groves Cafe. I like to get up early to set it all up and I always dress smartly. I like meeting new customers and it makes me feel happy to see them enjoying themselves.”
Another manager, Sam, said: “It has done really well and I have expanded my skills.
“It is really helping me with my money and writing skills”.
The café, located at 84 Lowther Street, was developed in collaboration with Krumbs Café, a training facility funded by City of York Council and run by United Response to offer hospitality and catering training to people with learning disabilities.
The Groves Café is seen as an opportunity for people with learning disabilities to utilise the restaurant management skills they have developed at Krumbs.