A NEW cafe training young people with autism will open in Wokingham this autumn.
Created by the Kimel Foundation, the Kimel Cafe will support neurodivergent people in the area to learn new skills for both work and home.
Founder Nic Lander said it will be a “super cool cafe” with a twist.
With three neurodivergent daughters, he created the Kimel Foundation last year over concerns about the number of people with autism in employment.
In 2016, the National Autistic Society found that only 16% of autistic adults are in full-time paid employment.
But he said around 70% do want a job.
He hopes the Kimel Cafe will be a place young people can learn new skills and grow.
It is based in the former Premier Express on Evendons Lane, with room for 15 seats inside.
“We don’t need a big space,” Mr Lander said. “First and foremost, we’re here to help people with their social anxiety and increase their skills.”
It will serve hot drinks and freshly baked cakes, created by Mr Lander’s oldest daughter.
Young people will take on paid front-of-house and barista roles.
The team is currently in the process of creating their own house blend of coffee, which they also hope to sell for customers to brew at home.
There will be bike racks out the front, and Mr Lander is hoping to attract some of the borough’s cycling groups for weekend refreshments.
In the evenings, he wants to open the space up for community groups.
“I hope people will support a project like this,” he said. “There has been an incredible amount of interest from young people already.”
This, he said, is both good and bad.
“It’s great that they’re reaching out to us,” Mr Lander said. “But it shows we’re one of the only projects around doing this.”
He hopes to open the cafe in November, although there will not be a song and dance.
“One day we will just open our doors,” he said. “We don’t want to cause any more stress for our young people.”
He hopes it will operate from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on the weekends, but this could change later down the line.
In the meantime, all efforts are going into setting up the venue.
He is welcoming any donated items to set up the cafe, including tables, chairs, fridges, freezers and display cabinets.
And in the back of the shop, there will be a private training area for young people.
Mr Lander said it will include a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board.
“Behind closed doors, people will be able to learn some life skills for their home,” he explained. “It will teach young neurodivergent people how to look after themselves and survive on their own.”
Aware he need to prove the success of the project, Mr Lander said the Kimel Cafe will use specialised software to track each employees’ outcomes.
“Data brings the money in,” he said. “And we want to prove the positive impact we have. It also helps flag up problems too.”
Mr Lander said it also helps deliver more tailored support for each individual.
“We’re not one size fits all,” he said.
For more information, search for @kimelcafe on Facebook.
