Lew’s must be the place
FOODIE CELEBRATES HIS CAFE’S SUCCESS
A FOODIE with autism says he is living the dream after celebrating the second anniversary of his popular cafe.
Lewis Codling welcomed family, friends and cafe regulars to Lew’s Place at Newburn Activity Centre on Tuesday to celebrate the occasion.
The start-up came about in 2015 after Lewis spotted a gap in the market, and approached children’s charity Smile for Life’s chief executive Paula Gascoigne, and Activity Centre manager Neal Thompson.
An initial summer trial was agreed, but the rip-roaring success of Lew’s Place has established the popular cafe as a permanent fixture.
Lewis, 25, from Kenton, Newcastle, said: “It is a massive achievement, for me it is a dream come true.
“I was not expecting to have something like this, I just love socialising with our customers.
“I’m just so happy with how the cafe has made me lots of friends.”
Lewis, who lives with tuberous sclerosis, enjoyed his first taste of the cafe industry with a placement at Café Beam, which was set up by Smile For Life.
Mum Shirley has thanked the charity and volunteers for helping make her son’s dream a reality.
She added: “None of this could have been achieved without them.
“As well as learning new skills, it has made Lewis a lot more confident within the job and his social skills have gone through the roof.
“It has given him a purpose, he looks forward to it and enjoys every day.”
Lew’s Place was the third café to open in a year for the charity, all set up to give young adults with disabilities real life work experience before they leave education.
Paula has praised Lewis and his volunteers for their work, and believes the cafe has a ‘huge’ impact on the foodie who now helps as a young ambassador for the charity.
She said: “It was a great turnout, we had more than 60 guests in the morning.
“Everything made from Lew’s Place goes back into Smile for Life so we can help more young people.
“Lewis sits and chats with people, and he makes conversation now which is big for him. Regulars have written in to say how much of a difference they see in him now.
“It’s just fantastic. He is confident, sociable and the perfect host for Lew’s Place.”
Lew’s Place is open for business every Tuesday from 10am – 2pm in the Activity Centre’s function room.