Open for business
CAFE BUILDS CONFIDENCE
STUDENTS with autism at a popular Newcastle cafe are proving disabilities are no barrier to success in the workplace.
Cafe Beam in Gosforth was set up four years ago and is run by charity Smile for Life to give young disabled people hands-on work experience before leaving school or college.
And speaking to mark autism awareness week, cafe workers Katie Goodwin and Cole Forster have revealed just how much of an impact the jobs have had on their lives.
Katie said: “It’s been fun, I’ve made new friends. I learned how to do the till, serve people and talking to the other customers.
“I now get the bus here by myself. It’s gained me confidence and I have fun.”
Cole, who works at the cafe every Wednesday, added: “It gets fairly busy sometimes – it builds my confidence. I didn’t know much about the coffee machine when I first came.
“Paula told me about the training and so did Lauren, so I’ve learned so much over the years.”
Newcastle top chef Kenny Atkinson, the man behind Quayside Michelin Star restaurant House of Tides, is Smile for Life’s patron and has employed young people with autism.
He paid a visit to Café Beam as part of the charity’s #Empower And Employ campaign to improve understanding of disabilities, and prove being disabled does prevent individuals from working.
Kenny said: “I think the campaign is essential. I think with children with autism, people can tend to look at the negatives too much.
“Actually if you look deeper than that, they’ve all got skills and they’ve all got something they can excel in.
“It’s all about giving those individuals an opportunity to build their confidence, build friends and give them a sense of purpose and normality as well.
“They’re very capable of doing what they want to do. There’s opportunities across the country where these kids can get jobs and play a big part in society.”
Paula Gascoigne, Smile for Life chief executive, is leading calls for employers to create specific roles for young people with disabilities to flourish.
She added: “We really want to drive it other businesses across the North East to show the skills and the value of young people with a variety of disabilities, and how valuable they can be in the workplace.”