New coffee machine at Suffolk community café gives staff "great pride" and boosts confidence
The café in Kesgrave purchased the new kit thanks to a donation from a local councillor.
After receiving £1,000 from Councillor Stuart Lawson, local ward member for Kesgrave, Café 66 got themselves an easy-to-use coffee machine.
The community café, which hires vulnerable young people, received the funds as part of Cllr Lawson's Enabling Communities Budget earlier this year.
The introduction of the new kit has been greatly received by staff there.
Sharon Terry, one of the managers, said: "We are delighted to have purchased a new coffee machine courtesy of Cllr Stuart Lawson.
"This really is so much more than just a coffee machine – it is enabling our café staff to easily and safely make hot drinks without having to rely on someone else to help them, which gives them great pride and further strengthens their self-confidence and independence."
Councillors were allocated £1,000 from their 2020/21 Enabling Communities Budget towards a Covid-19 Hardship Fund in response to the pandemic.
An additional £45,000 was added to the fund from budgets, which some councillors chose to donate directly to local groups.
Speaking about Café 66, Cllr Lawson said: "This is a wonderful community café in Kesgrave, which is staffed by young people with learning difficulties and disabilities – giving them a unique opportunity to gain new skills in a supportive environment and to build self-confidence.
"Before the arrival of the new coffee machine, café staff were relying on a manager or volunteer to make the hot drinks, which they would then serve. However, thanks to the new machine, staff are now able to make their own hot drinks with the touch of one button, which only helps to install more pride and self-confidence in these fantastic young people."
Community groups wishing to apply for Enabling Community Budget funding, people are advised to get in touch with their district councillor or visit East Suffolk Council's website.