Premier Security Consultants were proud to play their part in the wonderful housing redevelopment of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Tower Hamlets and it was incredibly pleasing to visit the project this week and pop into a new on-site coffee bar offering training and employment opportunities for local people with learning disabilities.
Built and fitted out by our instructing clients Rydon Construction, Haggerston Perk is located on Goldsmith Row on the borders of Tower Hamlets and Hackney and is London’s first supported internship café. It provides young people with learning disabilities an alternative to college and a springboard into sustainable employment in East London’s thriving hospitality sector.
The café, launched on 5 June, is the culmination of an 18-month partnership project between the Tower Project JET Service – a local charity and national award-winning provider of supported employment services who will operate the café, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Peabody Housing Association, Rydon, Capex Workspace Interiors, The Space Group and Climpson & Sons.
With just 7% of people with a learning disability in paid employment in London and with local employers in the hospitality sector struggling to fill vacancies, Haggerston Perk will support young people with learning disabilities to gain the training and experience to fill these positions.
Haggerston Perk Manager Francesca O’Neill will ensure that the great outcomes achieved by the café interns are matched by the excellent food and coffee on offer.
Francesca explained: “At Haggerston Perk we have created a café with a conscience, where young people labeled as furthest from the job market will demonstrate this label is furthest from the truth and provide visitors with the best café experience in East London.
“We have had a great response from local people who are getting to know us and what we are all about.
The new venture is well located within the new development and is also positioned on one of the main arterial cycle routes into the City on Goldsmiths Row and is adjacent to Haggerston Park, home to Hackney City Farm and a number of popular recreational facilities.
Our photograph shows manager Francesca (left) student Charlene (centre) and employment advisor Ayesha behind the counter of Haggerston Perk.
For more information about the Tower Project, check our http://towerproject.org.uk/
To read about Premier’s work at QEH, go to https://premier-ssl.com/…/premier-praised-for-qeh-proje…
