What we do

As well as operating as a commercial café, the Strawberry Line Café provides training, employment and work experience for young adults with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities are more likely to be out of work than people with physical disabilities or mental health problems, regardless of their willingness to work. By providing the opportunity to be in a real work environment and take industry standard qualifications, we are giving people the chance to prove themselves employable, and grow in confidence.

We currently employ three people with learning disabilities, two of them as NVQ apprentices, and a further nine are involved as regular volunteers. We try to give everyone the chance to gain experience in all aspects of café work, including food preparation, customer service and stock control. We have also assisted Clevedon School, Ravenswood School, and Weston College with their work preparation programmes.

Our role is not an official service or training provider, but a Social Firm - a business that exists to create opportunities for social inclusion. We receive no funding for the individuals who are training or volunteering at the café, and are not supported by any Government Agencies or schemes. However United Response are currently funding the co-ordination of our work with people with learning disabilities, and our monthly jobclub.

Here’s what the ‘Connexions’ service said about the cafe recently:

The Strawberry Line Cafe fills a large gap in North Somerset, as it is the only provision that offers vocational training, in a real working environment, for young people with learning difficulties and or disabilities.
It can offer flexible support and training to young people with a wide range of ability levels. It is presently offering placements in work experience, work tasters and accredited NVQ level courses in catering with supportive staff and provision in place to provide any extra help with written course work. This is a unique provision in North Somerset. 
The Strawberry Line Cafe has had a life-changing effect on a pupil from a local special school, who was finding it difficult to engage in school in year 11 and was in danger of being excluded. Working at the cafe has given her the confidence, belief in herself and motivation to continue with her education. She hopes to be able to complete a level 1 and hopefully a level 2 apprenticeship at the cafe when she finishes her lifeskills course at college in June.