Relief as cafe which employs staff with autism saved

Sea Change in South Shields employs people with autism and learning disabilities

A cafe which employs people with autism and learning disabilities has been saved from closure after thousands of pounds were raised by the public.

Sea Change in South Shields had faced a 400% increase in energy payments and received a £20,000 backdated energy bill.

After the BBC contacted its energy provider Octopus, the debt was waived as a "gesture of goodwill".

Employees said they were "blown away by the support", while owner Sarah Farrell-Forster said it meant the cafe could stay open.

A online campaign to save the cafe, set up on 3 February, has seen more than £15,000 raised by at least 400 people.

The cafe, which opened in 2019, had seen its energy bills hiked from about £300 to £1,100 a month. The cost of many ingredients had also doubled.

'Overwhelmed'

Ms Farrell-Forster, from Sunderland, said it was "unbelievable" that people as far as Aberdeen, in Scotland, and Suffolk, in East England, had donated.

"We were so overwhelmed and grateful. It's amazing, we had £10,000 raised in less than 24 hours," she told BBC Look North.

Octopus said it had acted "extremely quickly" and had worked with the cafe to "resolve this situation" once it had been made aware of the cafe's dilemma.

Ms Farrell-Forster said: "I can't believe it, that's unbelievable and [will] make things a lot better, easier for us... we can stay open."

She said money raised from the campaign would go towards the increased monthly energy costs, and be reinvested to provide further employment and training opportunities for those with disabilities.

Workers say they are relieved Sea Change will be staying open

Nicole Youngman, who has been working at Sea Change for more than four years, said she was "relieved" and thankful to those who had raised money.

She said: "I am gobsmacked, is the honest answer, because I'll not lose my job now, I'm just really pleased."

Jayne Hughes had worked at several previous employers, but said she felt most supported at the cafe after receiving a job offer in November.

She said: "This is really important, it gives people a safe space and employment and their needs are met and they're respected.

"This [the fundraiser] just shows how supportive everybody has been and we really did need it, and it's given us that confidence."