That’s 20,000 hours to shine
HAMLET Cafe has forged a reputation for fine coffee, excellent food and giving people a chance. Today the Hobart social enterprise will be offering free coffee to celebrate 20,000 hours of training for Tasmanians facing barriers to employment.
Hamlet CEO Emily Briffa says participants love the work: “They feel like someone actually cares.”
HOBART’S Hamlet Cafe will serve free coffee today to mark 20,000 hours of training for Tasmanians facing barriers to employment.
Hamlet chief executive Emily Briffa said the milestone was an achievement worth celebrating for the 3½year-old social enterprise.
“For us it’s a pretty significant milestone,” she said, “because it shows that in the space of 3½ years how much support we’ve provided to people in the community that really need it.
“When I talk to participants and ask what is the best thing about coming to Hamlet, they say [it’s] the people. They feel like someone actually cares.”
The cafe, tucked away at the end of the Hobart Rivulet track on Molle St, has developed a loyal following.
The enterprise is now 80 per cent self-funded and today’s free coffee is a way of saying thank you to the community for its support.
“I like to think the coffee is good and the food is good,” Ms Briffa said. “But more than that, people create connections here which is really special. For the work experience participants themselves that is probably the most important thing they get out of this space, that feeling of being connected.
“A lot of our regular customers have that experience of seeing people grow.”
Initially Hamlet’s main participants were people experiencing long-term unemployment. But the service has widened to support people from many backgrounds who are struggling to get a foothold in the state’s tough job market.
About 60 per cent of Hamlet’s participants identify as having a disability.
Others have mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, language barriers, or a lack of confidence or experience that has hampered their efforts to find work.
Paid staff train participants, who volunteer to receive all-important work experience. A recent Tasmanian Community Fund grant allowed Hamlet to launch a catering arm, providing expanded training options.
“We’re doing office lunches, morning and afternoon tea, and we can also open up the space for private functions and events. It’s really exciting,” Ms Briffa said.