Community Café Creating Opportunities for Adults with Additional Needs Funded by Taunton Town Council
A new community café opening at YMCA Taunton is set to create meaningful opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and additional needs, while providing a welcoming place for the whole community to enjoy affordable, home-cooked food and refreshments.
Achieve@YMCAfe, developed in partnership with Achieve Day Support, officially launches this July following a successful pilot programme that demonstrated the positive impact practical work experience, social connection and community participation can have on confidence, independence and wellbeing.
The project has been made possible thanks to a £15,000 grant from Taunton Town Council, whose investment will help establish the café as a sustainable community social enterprise supporting local people for years to come.
More than just a café, Achieve@YMCAfe has been created to provide adults with additional needs with valuable opportunities to gain practical experience in food preparation, customer service, teamwork and hospitality in a supportive, real-life environment. Participants will develop valuable skills, build confidence, increase their independence and become active members of the local community.
“The pilot showed just how much people can achieve when they are given the right opportunities and support. Participants took pride in learning new skills, working as part of a team and interacting with customers. This funding means we can continue creating meaningful opportunities for those taking part in the program whilst welcoming the wider community into the café.”
Kye from Achieve Day Support
For local residents, the café will offer affordable home-cooked meals, refreshments and a friendly place to meet, helping to reduce loneliness while bringing people together through good food and genuine community connection.
The project also includes plans to develop a community growing space, where participants and volunteers will grow fruit, vegetables and herbs for use in the café while learning new skills and promoting sustainability.
The funding from Taunton Town Council will help provide the staffing, equipment and operational support needed during the café’s early stages, building on the success of the pilot and helping establish a project that will continue to benefit the community long into the future.
“Achieve@YMCAfe is about so much more than serving food. It is about creating opportunities, building confidence and helping people feel valued, included and connected to their community. During the pilot we saw participants grow in confidence, develop new skills and form genuine friendships. We are incredibly grateful to Taunton Town Council for believing in the project and helping us turn that success into a long-term community resource.”
Clare Langley, CEO
The pilot project received excellent feedback from customers, many of whom praised both the quality of the food and the welcoming atmosphere created by participants and volunteers.
“I came in for the chicken hotpot, which is delicious, and left feeling part of something special. The food was wonderful, homemade and incredibly filling, but what really stood out was the warm welcome. It was wonderful to see people gaining confidence, learning new skills and taking such pride in what they were doing. I’ll definitely be back.”
Jo, customer
YMCA Taunton would like to thank Taunton Town Council for its generous support in helping bring Achieve@YMCAfe to life. Their investment is helping create a lasting community asset where people can learn, grow, build confidence and feel part of something bigger.
Further details about the official opening will be announced soon. YMCA Taunton looks forward to welcoming the community to experience Achieve@YMCAfe and support a project that is changing lives, one meal at a time.
