A brand new pro-social coffee cart has launched in Newcastle Civic Centre working with disadvantaged people from across the city.
FoodWorks is a catering enterprise within the Council’s Supported Employment Service, which provides work experience, training and paid work for people who need support to access employment.
The cart has enabled FoodWorks to create three new Council jobs, all of which have been offered to young people with varied support needs. The new team members also receive employability training and support to ensure they continue to progress up the career ladder.
FoodWorks have developed the cart in partnership with Crisis, the homelessness charity, and is working closely with Food Nation and Food Newcastle, a citywide movement to tackle food poverty and waste. Through these partnerships, FoodWorks is creating more life changing opportunities for people with disabilities, mental and physical health needs, and those who have experienced homelessness and exclusion, as well as helping to tackle food poverty and waste.
FoodWorks and its partners are passionate about creating opportunities for disadvantaged people and incorporating them into an inclusive city wide economy. The service works with people with various needs, including those who have been made homeless or have a disability which may have limited their opportunities to work.
The pro-social work of the cart doesn’t stop with the people, but spreads all across Newcastle and the surrounding area.
The food, which includes sandwiches, salads and cakes, is all prepared fresh at FoodWorks café in Heaton, working with a menu that has been developed in partnership with award winning chef Nico Duhil, chef at Newcastle’s Crisis Skylight café. The food is sourced locally and ethically, including the bread which is supplied by Geordie Bakers. The barista coffee machines and fresh coffee and teas are supplied by Ringtons, who also supported the staff with training.
Councillor Karen Kilgour, portfolio holder for Adult Care and Health at Newcastle City Council attended the launch on the 10th July and said
“The new FoodWorks coffee cart is fantastic and is going to support people across the City.”
“Our Supported Employment Service have worked hard to set up this new venture and I thank them for their continued support.”
“It is important that the Council creates opportunities for everyone in Newcastle, regardless of their background or circumstance, creating a truly inclusive economy. Working with partners such as Crisis has helped us to achieve this ambition.”
“As a local authority we want to develop new enterprises that contribute to our inclusive agenda. The FoodWorks coffee cart is a great example of this.”
“I would love to invite everyone to pop into the main reception of Newcastle’s Civic Centre and sample a fresh coffee or handmade sandwich, salad or sweet treat. Every bite or sip you take means you are supporting FoodWorks to make things better.”
The cart will be open from Monday – Friday, 8am – 2pm and is located in the main reception of Newcastle’s Civic Centre. FoodWorks is open to the public as well as those visiting or working in the Civic Centre.
All profits from the cart go back into the Supported Employment Service to help continue to provide support into employment for people across the city.