Grow’s new training cafe opens tomorrow
Excitement is building at Grow as the charity prepares to open its latest training facility to the public.
The 20-seat training cafe will open for the first time tomorrow.
Grow general manager Karen Blanchford has said that the training cafe will help provide the crew with the skills they need for future employment.
‘The new facilities allow us to help prepare more people for employment as we can take on bigger numbers now having more facilities,’ she said.
The crew have spent the past three weeks learning hospitality skills in both the kitchen, with James Ferguson from Cooked Outdoor Catering, and front of house with Grow’s training and development manager Richard Portsmouth.
‘Over the last two months we have established a full schedule of work where the crew have learned to prepare a range of dishes, including soups, spring rolls, scotch eggs, biscuits, cookies and cakes,’ said Mr Ferguson.
‘Watching how they have developed skills and gained confidence has been inspirational and we’re all looking forward to opening our doors to the public so they can sample our fare.’
Over the three weeks of preparations there have been multiple trial sessions for friends and supporters of the charity.
‘Grow’s transformation, teaching practical skills and personal development really do make a difference to their members’ quality of life,’ said Wayne Bulpitt, chairman of the Association of Guernsey Charities.
‘We selected a group of friends as the crew haven’t done that much with the public yet,’ said Ms Blanchford.
The new training cafe has been set up in keeping with Grow’s aim to re-use and recycle wherever possible.
The cafe’s furniture was donated to the charity by a local school, kitchen equipment was donated from the old La Grande Mare Hotel and the coffee machine was also gifted to the charity.
The furniture was all restored in the workshop, another one of Grow’s training facilities.
The cafe will be open to the public on Tuesdays from 12.30-3.30pm and 10-11.30am and 12.30-3.30 on Wednesdays for simple lunches, tea or coffee and cake.
The cafe will also be open on Thursdays from 10-11.30am for tea or coffee and cake.
Customers are asked to keep in mind that the cafe is operating as a training facility for the crew.
