When is a cafe, more than a cafe?

Laura Shuttleworth • March 11, 2022

… when it supports people with disabilities and other barriers on their journey to meaningful paid employment.   

At Ways into Work, we specialise in matching the skills and talents of people with disabilities and other barriers to the needs of local businesses. This provides them with the support they need to access sustainable employment, increase their independence, and most importantly, have the same opportunities as everyone around them.  

 

To grow our impact, we are working in partnership with New Directions College to launch a brand-new project - our very own café near the Broad Street Mall in Reading’s town centre. New Direction College are leading on the offsite learning and qualifications using their SMILE hospitality learning suite and upgraded digital capability. This café will not only be a trendy new spot for you to enjoy coffee, sandwiches, and cake, but it has many other benefits as well. 


In line with our social mission – Changing Lives, One Job at a Time – the café will employ and be staffed by people with disabilities and other barriers, supporting those in the local community. This will mean paid jobs for our clients, as well as other development opportunities, such as work experience and supported internships.

 

But the benefits do not stop there... it will challenge perceptions of disability by demonstrating real diversity in the workforce, showcasing how employing people with disabilities can benefit employers and provide funding to support the Keeping in Touch (KIT) team in its vital role supporting people where there is no funding or the funding has run out.


Our Keeping in Touch team provide essential ongoing support to clients who are no longer funded under Local Authority or other commissioned contracts. The KIT team has no external funding and we re-invest our finite earnings into it to offer our 'time unlimited support promise’ to ensure that, through life’s ups and downs, support is available to maintain sustainable employment.

 

We have launched a Crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise £30,000 to help set up the café and make this project a success, but we need your support - so please share with everyone you know to raise awareness and get the message out there! 

 

To Change Lives, One Job at a Time, and for a new spot to enjoy your morning cuppa – please donate today to our crowdfunding campaign!   


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