Day: October 20, 2018

Social enterprise charity Team Domenica to open its second café in Brighton with the aim of providing more opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to find work.

THE Brighton-based charity, which specialises in helping young people with learning disabilities into work, is to open its second training café in the city – Café Domenica  – on October 29, 2018 in Hove Library.

“Coming just 2 years after Team Domenica’s first café opened in the city, and 12 months after our move to Preston Circus, the new café in Hove Library is the result of the hard work of all our candidates, staff, volunteers and Trustees.” said Jo Cook, Executive Director at Team Domenica.

“Candidates working in our cafés have the chance to develop new skills – including communication and customer service, whilst also building their confidence and gaining practical work experience in a real work environment,” added Jo Cook. “Not only is this valuable to them, but also to the public and community who gain real value by interacting with people with learning disabilities.”

The new café at Hove Library will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm and will be staffed by Team Domenica’s candidates.

Team Domenica’s arrival heralds a new start for the much loved historic building, with city council investment and planning securing the future of the library for years to come.

Councillor Emma Daniel, chair of the council’s neighbourhoods, inclusion, communities & equalities committee, said: “The council is delighted to have Team Domenica moving into Hove Library.

“Not only will the team be delivering great food, they will be providing young people with learning difficulties the chance to develop both work and life skills.

“People who visit the café will know they are contributing to Team Domenica’s philosophy of helping young people whilst being part of the library’s future.”

The design and construction of the new café have been made possible thanks to the generous support of Chalk Architecture Ltd, construction company Labcast Ltd, and local artist Dave Pop, who was responsible for the distinctive flamingo artwork in the cafe.

Speaking ahead of the opening, Team Domenica Founder & Chair, Rosa Monckton said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to open a Café Domenica in Hove Library. It is both a wonderful opportunity for our candidates to practice their professional and social skills, and also important for Team Domenica to be able to provide such a useful service to the community, which has been so welcoming to us all.

“The work that we do is life changing. We are giving hope, where previously there was none; giving young adults with learning disabilities a sense of self-worth, and – often for the very first time – a sense of achievement and belonging.”