THE atmosphere is buzzing, the food delicious and the staff are friendly, efficient and welcoming.

But Cafe HX1 in Hope Street, Halifax, where I am being spoiled with mouth-watering, home-made lasagne, new potatoes and fresh salad, is no ordinary eating place.

It is a training cafe serving up hearty helpings of catering and customer service skills for adults with a wide range of learning needs.

Under careful and expert supervision and support, trainees here work towards a number of formal qualifications recognising their hard-won achievements – qualifications which can then help them to move on to paid or voluntary employment.

On the menu here – as well as a full range of healthy and tasty hot and cold meals and snacks – is success by the plateful.

And as I tuck into my lunch I am regaled with stories by trainees who are celebrating being awarded food hygiene certificates.

One of them is 56-year-old Diane Murphy, of Boothtown, Halifax, who suffers from epilepsy.

Diane says she has been coming to Hope Street for the past 40 years – long before the training cafe was thought possible.

Hope Street has been the site of a day care centre run by Calderdale Council for decades, but it is only in the last couple of years that the training cafe, managed by Halifax Support Services and funded by the council, has been open.

"I love working in the cafe and it has given me a lot of confidence," says Diane.

"I would never have dared to travel on my own before but now I get the bus here and I get the bus to other places, meeting up with friends and so on in town," she says.

Diane has recently enjoyed an eight-month work placement with Marks & Spencer, Halifax, working in the cafe and impressing manager Jackie Herrick and her team.

"The skills I have learned here will be really useful for me," says Diane.

Ruth Mitchell, assistant locality manager of the cafe says the aim of Cafe HX1 is to provide a supported and caring environment where people can obtain knowledge, practical experience and qualifications in catering.

"And at the same time we provide a high-quality cafe business," she said.

"But there are lots of skills trainees can develop which can prepare them for life in the workplace. There are lots of things all of us do every day and take for granted and these can be things our trainees find difficult – travelling independently for example. Working here gives them a tremendous confidence."

She explains how it can sometimes just be a case of tailoring the learning for the trainee – something Cafe HX1 believes is so important.

"We all learn in different ways and that is something we take into account. It can also be a real battle for those with learning needs to get into employment but hopefully the skills and qualifications they gain here will break down those barriers.

"I have to say it is a real privilege working alongside these people. Coming into work is a real pleasure."

Paul Gledhill is the training officer and stresses that the cafe adapts itself to those working there.

"We fit the trainees not the other way round and as well as the skills and accredited acknowledgments they learn and gain, the social benefits are immeasurable."

He says trainees learn skills, not just to help them for future employment, but in everyday life – including how to prepare and serve food, health and safety, social and hospitality skills, basic literacy, numeracy and communication and interview skills.

Trainee Helen Barwick is on work experience at Somerfield's supermarket, Elland and says she is "loving it", while Ian Reid is proud to announce he has just been awarded his food hygiene certificate.
"I love doing the cooking and working in the cafe, It's always really busy," he says.

Ruth says there are plans to extend the cafe's services out into the wider community – a sandwich and buffet service will be set up at Clement Court sheltered accommodation, Halifax.

"Our absolute goal though is to have a cafe in the centre of town, where the public came come in and enjoy a meal, snack or just a coffee," she says.

Cafe HX1 needs a van so trainees can develop a mob-ile cafe and sandwich business.

Anyone who can help should ring Ruth on 01422 250833.

And getting back to nature...

PLANS are now under way to develop trainees' gardening skills with the launch of Cutting Hedge.

People with learning disabilities will be able to learn about gardening while collecting certificates for their achievements and securing work placements.

The gardening services will be offered to older people in Calderdale, with trainees helping them with their gardens by lawn mowing, strimming, planting, leaf clearance and general garden maintenance.

There will be a charge for the service which is reduced for those on benefits.

For more information, contact Ruth Mitchell on 01422 250833.