New Directions’ is working in partnership with the charity Futures Unlocked to run their café – Moriarty’s – in Regent Street, Rugby on Mondays between 10.00am and 5pm. People supported by New Directions’ at Community Choices Network the Charity’s day opportunities service and others who live in their own homes within the Charity’s supported living services are volunteering to serve tea, coffee, cakes and home-made soup. The volunteers will be given the opportunity to develop their money management skills, learn about food hygiene and the importance of infection control. The café is located in the heart of the local community and with the support of the public it will be a great success. The café will be visited by MP Mark Pawsey on the 3rd September 2018 to promote this exciting venture.
The volunteers from New Directions are attending Food Hygiene and Infection Control training sessions to enable them to learn the essential skills needed to be involved in working at the café. All the positive work carried out by New Directions will be displayed in the café along with valuable information about the services and opportunities we can offer to people who have a disability.
The opportunity to run the café came about when one of New Directions’ managers attended one of the Networking Lunches arranged by Warwickshire County Council. Running the café will allow those people working there to gain valuable work skills, to take an active part in the local community; this will all lead to the building of self-confidence and to meeting new people and making new friends.
Philip Jones, acting Operations Manager for Futures Unlocked, says “The New Directions’ café is a welcome addition to the community base on which the work of Futures Unlocked is founded. You can be sure of friendly service and good refreshment at the New Directions’ café.”
Futures Unlocked is the vision of staff in the Chaplaincy of a local prison and offers mentoring support to ex-offenders in, or returning to, their local community. The Charity has given practical and emotional support to hundreds of clients during its 13 years of existence. It opened its community café and gallery at Moriarty’s two years ago, working with other groups and organisations to use the venue for a variety of endeavours.