A Tonbridge day service for young adults with learning disabilities has opened a coffee shop to help boost their employability.
The new café at the Upz and Downz day centre has recruited its young adults to assist in the running of the venue, taking on tasks from wiping down tables and loading the dishwasher, to helping bake cakes and serving hot soup in the autumn and winter.
The day centre also runs craft, carpentry, cooking and art sessions, and many of the students’ creations have been used to furnish and decorate the coffee shop, from wooden tables to wall art and a planter.
Manager Daisy Jeffery said: “We appreciate all of our customers that have supported us since the opening of the coffee shop and we love welcoming new customers in every day.
“We are also dog-friendly and provide water bowls and ice cream for dogs. We also have a range of kids’ board games and a drawing competition which takes place every week.”
The day centre and café at the Longmead Stadium in Tonbridge are open seven days a week, from 8:45am to 4:45pm on weekdays and 8:45am to 4pm at the weekend.
