Cafe run by adults with learning disability praised

Victoria works in the cafe and said she had learnt several skills from the experience

A national charity for people with learning disabilities said a cafe that gives vulnerable adults real life experiences was "brilliant" preparation for work or volunteering opportunities.

Spectrum Northants supports adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues and autism.

Through its cafe in Duston, Northampton, it is teaching retail and customer service skills.

Jackie O'Sullivan from the charity Mencap said there needed to be more experiences like the cafe "because we know that people with a learning disability really want to work [but] so very few do".

Jackie O'Sullivan, executive director of strategy and influence at Mencap, said more spaces like Spectrum's cafe are needed

Official figures put the employment rate for those with learning disabilities at 5% and Ms O'Sullivan said 85% of those without a job "want one".

"They just need to find the right pathways into work and [the cafe] is a brilliant way to get people job skills and life skills that can really benefit them in future employment," she said.

Mark Mitchell said the cafe was rewarding for service users and staff

Spectrum Northants has two centres in Northampton and works with more than 90 adults with special needs and disabilities.

Since 2017 it has run a charity shop to give its service users retail experience, and ran a pop-up cafe in 2023.

In March it opened the cafe on its Berrywood Road site.

Spectrum chief executive Mark Mitchell said through the cafe they "get to build their confidence and their important building blocks for actually progressing and getting the best quality of life".

The cafe operates at the charity's headquarters in Duston

He said: "We have a number of individuals who would like to progress, be that into other learning, into volunteering or employment and the venue like this builds their skills.

"They get to meet members of the public, engage with members of the public.

"They get to build their confidence and their important building blocks for actually progressing and getting the best quality of life."

Victoria is one of those who works in the cafe and she "likes coming here".

She said: "I like working on the till and meeting all the customers... making the drinks and just meeting everyone and seeing everyone.

"I love working in a cafe."

She said the work had given her the "independence to speak to people and I've built up my confidence".