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A new café in the centre of Harlow Green is serving more than coffee. All of the twelve waiters, cooks and cashiers at The Open Door have learning disabilities, and for most of them it is their first paid job.
The café was started by a local charity after its research showed that fewer than one in ten adults with learning disabilities in the area had a paid job, even though many of them wanted to work. "People often assume they can't do it," said the charity's director, James Okoro. "Our staff prove every day that, with the right training and support, they can."
Before the café opened, every member of staff completed a twelve-week training course in food safety, customer service and using the till. Two experienced supervisors work alongside them on every shift, and the menu was designed to be simple to prepare: soups, sandwiches, salads and homemade cakes.
The café also makes some small changes to help both staff and customers. The menu includes pictures as well as words, and orders are written on coloured cards so that they are easy to follow in the kitchen. Customers are asked to be patient at busy times, although most say service is as quick as anywhere else.
The café has been open for three months and is already making enough money to pay its staff a fair wage. Its customers range from office workers on their lunch break to families with young children. Many say they come back not only for the food but for the friendly atmosphere.
Twenty-four-year-old Daniel, who works on the till, said the job had changed his life. "Before, I stayed at home most of the time. Now I meet lots of people, and I have my own money. I want to work here for a long time."
The charity plans to open a second café in a nearby town next year and hopes that other businesses will follow its example by offering jobs to people with learning disabilities.