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Cafe gives skills to people with learning difficulties

BBC Jordan stands behind a counter where you serve food. He's wearing a green T-shirt and a blue hair net. He's next to a sign with the cafe saying it's serving pasta bolognese and garlic breadBBC
Jordan said the work experience at the hospital cafe had helped him

A partnership between the hospital catering department and a Jersey charity is giving people with learning difficulties or autism some work experience.

Staff from Health and Community Services have been helping people from Beresford Street Kitchen (BSK) gain skills working with customers and serving food at the Thyme Out cafe in the hospital.

The charity hopes this will inspire other employers to give similar opportunities.

The programme has already seen two people from BSK complete work experience at the cafe, which hopes to continue the scheme.

Jordan stands in front of the camera with his hands by his side. He's wearing a green T-shirt. Behind him is the food counter with a large screen to the left showing what food choices there are. A sign by the counter says caution hot surface.
Jordan wants to find full-time employment after the work experience

Jordan was one of those given an opportunity at the cafe.

He said the experience had been "quite good really" and "it should hopefully help me find a job".

He added: "I'd like to say thanks to the really friendly staff who’ve been teaching me how to serve customers."

The programme lasts for a couple of weeks, with those on the work experience learning to communicate with other members of staff and helping customers.

Gavin smiles at the camera with his hands on his hips. He's wearing a short-sleeved shirt with blue stripes on it and has a Jersey government lanyard on. He stands in front of the food counter and there are sachets of condiments. In the background a member of staff prepares some food.
Gavin Farmer wants to continue the work with BSK

Gavin Farmer, from the catering department, approached BSK with the idea for the partnership and has been pleased with how it has gone.

He said: "We didn't have anybody with learning difficulties or autism working here, which is why he wanted to work with BSK.

"As a team it was really rewarding to see the guys coming in and seeing their confidence grow, because that's what we set out to do."

Mr Farmer said he planned to continue the work with BSK and find other ways to offer work experience.

Ella smiles at the camera as she holds her hands in front of her. She is wearing a light blue denim jacket and to her left is a hot drinks machine which has the cafe's name on a sign on it. Behind her to her right is a fridge unit with drinks and sandwiches inside.
Ella Vieira, from BSK, would like to see more employers come forward

Ella Vieira, from BSK, has seen how the partnership has helped people like Jordan.

She said the work experience had "been brilliant" and "we're trying to get more employers to do this".

Ms Vieira added: "We’re looking for employers who want to be more inclusive, who know there are gaps in the workforce and BSK has a huge untapped workforce who can do the job."

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