Meet Parkview Cafe’s staff
Jamie Hancock, 36, from Cardiff is a former trainee who has become a staff member. He was doing his NVQ in catering 12 years ago when he was offered the chance to train with Innovate. He spent six months at Greenshoots Catering, then transferred to Parkview.
He currently works two days a week, doing “a bit of everything,” and plans to stay on long-term. He says he enjoys cooking, and does dishes from curry to spaghetti Bolognese.
When asked what he likes best about Parkview Café, he says, “Everything. It’s friendly; it’s a good atmosphere.”
Adrianne Holloway, 30, from Cardiff has worked at the café, teaching the trainees, on and off for nine years. She is qualified in Health and Social Care and has previously worked in a mental health unit, and in Innovate’s Greenshoots and (now defunct) Baltic Café projects.
She says, “I love it here. It’s the actual atmosphere that keeps bringing me back.”
Parkview Café details
Address: 587 Cowbridge Rd E, Cardiff, CF5 1BE
Phone: 02920 231966
Email: info@parkviewcafe.org.uk
Twitter: @parkviewcdf
Facebook: /parkview.cafe.cardiff
The Parkview Café takes on people with learning disabilities and trains them for employment in the catering industry. It’s located in St Luke’s community centre in Canton, and is run by the Innovate Trust, who support people with mental and physical disabilities.
Cardiff native Julie Raymond, 52, has managed Parkview for two years. Before taking on the café, she spent many years as a support worker for people with learning disabilities, then went on to work in other Innovate projects. But the café is special to her. “Trainees come with very little confidence,” she says, “but they seem to thrive. They come on leaps and bounds.”
The goal at the café is for trainees to reach a point where they can move on to paid employment. Many have, and a few have become employees of the Trust. Julie describes the progress of one trainee who began only able to work one day a week but has now progressed to four. “And he’s really reliable and good at what he does,” she adds.
In addition to their café duties, trainees take cooking lessons to expand their repertoires. “Every day, they come in and produce amazing food,” Julie says. They also learn how to handle complicated catering appliances, such as the espresso machine.
The Parkview Café also takes an ethical approach to the wider local community. Most of their food is locally sourced, and they aim to keep their prices lower than the average. Added to the positive attitude of the staff, the result is a relaxed, friendly venue where customers seem to come in as much for a chat as to enjoy their food.
Julie is proud of this, but what makes her happiest is watching the trainees progress and seeing how much they can achieve. “It puts a big smile on my face,” she says.
Meet Parkview Cafe’s staff
Jamie Hancock, 36, from Cardiff is a former trainee who has become a staff member. He was doing his NVQ in catering 12 years ago when he was offered the chance to train with Innovate. He spent six months at Greenshoots Catering, then transferred to Parkview.
He currently works two days a week, doing “a bit of everything,” and plans to stay on long-term. He says he enjoys cooking, and does dishes from curry to spaghetti Bolognese.
When asked what he likes best about Parkview Café, he says, “Everything. It’s friendly; it’s a good atmosphere.”
Adrianne Holloway, 30, from Cardiff has worked at the café, teaching the trainees, on and off for nine years. She is qualified in Health and Social Care and has previously worked in a mental health unit, and in Innovate’s Greenshoots and (now defunct) Baltic Café projects.
She says, “I love it here. It’s the actual atmosphere that keeps bringing me back.”
Parkview Café details
Address: 587 Cowbridge Rd E, Cardiff, CF5 1BE
Phone: 02920 231966
Email: info@parkviewcafe.org.uk
Twitter: @parkviewcdf
Facebook: /parkview.cafe.cardiff