A CAFE that serves warm meals to vulnerable people in York and offer them the chance to learn new skills is to open soon.

The York Real Junk Food Project will run from the former Krumbs Cafe, in Tanner Row, seven days a week, using food deemed surplus to requirements by supermarkets and businesses.

It will be run by disabilities charity, United Response, and manager Steph Brodie, who has a wealth of experience working with York’s homeless.

Ms Brodie parted ways with Never Give Up - which runs under the umbrella of St Michael Le Belfrey Church - in December, but quickly decided to use her knowledge to put plans in place for her latest project.

She said: “We are intercepting food that would normally go to landfill.

“We are helping people who are disadvantaged and misguided.

“We are not turning anyone away but want to invest in people to get them to that next stage in life, and equipping them with skills and training.

“It will open in August, but we will start running a lunch group on Thursdays in the coming weeks.

“We want to get the community on board now because even though we have our own equipment we need more and want people to get involved with this.”

Anyone eating at the cafe will be charged on a “pay as you feel basis”, meaning they need pay only what they feel the food is worth.

The café gives trainees the opportunity to develop catering and kitchen-based skills, as well as customer service skills, depending on the needs and preferences of the individual.

Jayne Glenton, of United Response, said: “This new partnership is set to rejuvenate the venue and reopen it to the public, empowering people with disabilities to assist their community in reducing waste while learning valuable skills for their future.

“We are looking forward to working with the York Real Junk Food Project to help reduce stigma and encourage disenfranchised groups such as people with disabilities and the homeless to come together and strengthen the communities they live in.”

Two other new cafes in North Yorkshire are also opening. As reported previously, Yourcafe, in Tang Hall Community Centre, will initially run for six weeks, while The Corrina and Friends Community Cafe will serve two-course dinners to homeless and vulnerable people in Harrogate.