Pop-Up Cafe Serving Up Training Opportunities

A pop-up social café is operating at the Tearooms at Belle Vue Park every Monday thanks to a partnership between Newport City Council and the company running the main café at the park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year the owners of Parc Pantry, in Malpas, won the contract to run the park’s café including a commitment to include an element of social enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a result, he Tearooms are hosting a project run by the council’s Work Based Learning Academy (WBLA) for adults with learning disabilities and conditions related to mental health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The WBLA is dedicated to training adults to gain independent living skills and experience in the world of work as well as a possible route into employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Every Monday the Positive Engagement Pathways (PEP) project will pop up as Chickles & Putney where the trainees will, under supervision, prepare and serve the food and drink. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The venture originated in Malpas Court where the café is operated by Malpas Court Social Enterprise. It has helped trainees learn foundation catering and hospitality skills before moving on to Chickles and Putney to hone their trade independently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Positive Engagement Pathways operates in Malpas Court from Tuesday to Friday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Social Enterprise Manager Theresa Davies said: “Malpas Court Social Enterprise have worked with the Positive Engagement Pathways team for the past 12 months, and it has been a privilege to help develop new skills, confidence and relationships with the group, to enable them to start up their own brand, Chickles and Putney. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We look forward to working with the PEP group on their first wedding in June enabling them to develop further skills and confidence within Malpas Court Social Enterprise. We wish them well in their endeavours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mark Whitcutt, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Work, said: “It is important that people, of all abilities, have the chance to improve their life and work skills. Through the WBLA, we are able to ensure that those opportunities are widely available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Positive Engagement Project in Malpas Court has opened up doors for people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions and proved extremely popular with customers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I hope Chickles & Putney will enjoy the same support from members of the public who, as well as enjoying some tasty treats in the lovely setting of Belle Vue Park, will be helping the trainees gain confidence and experience.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matt Ellis, of Parc Pantry, said: “We are pleased that we have been able to work in partnership with the WBLA to get the social enterprise element of the café up and running, offering people a great opportunity to hone their service skills.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ant Cook, also of Park Pantry,,added: ” The Tearooms will operate a pop up menu specially tailored for a Monday service. Where possible, ingredients will be sourced from local businesses as part of our shop local ethos. We are sure the trainees will give a warm welcome to all those who visit the Chickles & Putney pop up.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​