Cafe proves a success for trust's clients

The clients of the Aldingbourne Trust are dishing up the lunchtime treatsin the cafe at Durban House.

The offices in Durban Road are home to more than 400 West Sussex County Council staff.

Council administrator Harri O’Leary said: “The food is excellent, the staff are friendly and reliable and the afternoon cakes are rather nice too.”

The trust was asked by the council to take on the cafe as a social enterprise.

The work fits the trust’s role in supporting adults with learning disabilities have the same chances as everyone else.

Its clients are fully involved in the whole operation from preparing light lunches, breakfasts and serving coffees to refilling the salad bar.

County council corporate facilities managerMike O’Horan said: “The new staff cafe provides adults with learning disabilities a great place to work while helping them to gain invaluable skills to lead to employment and to have independent lives.”

One of those who works in the cafe, Barry Goble, said: I like cooking in the kitchen, meeting the customers and I have learnt many new things.”

Several of his fellow workers have developed their own ideas. Chris Fielder has created unique sandwich fillings and Jade Hall has helped to produce digital media footage on the in-house advertising screen.

The trust shares the kitchen at Durban House with the supportive WRVS workers.