A COMMUNITY café in the heart of Newton Abbot that supports people with disabilities has made the ‘difficult decision’ to close, the Mid-Devon Advertiser can confirm.
No Limits Café & Hub will close on Friday, March 28.
The café says several factors have led to ‘difficult decision’ to close, but chiefly financial issues and the current economic climate, which it says has made it ‘impossible to provide the level of support necessary for consistent and quality provision with one-on-one trained support.’
More than 40 percent of paid staff at the café have disabilities, a much higher proportion than most employers.
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A community space, kitchen, and hub where individuals with varying abilities can learn new skills, gain work experience, and receive support as they transition to more independent adult lives, the café opened its doors in June 2020 and has since supported 115 adults in completing work experience placements.
The café faced numerous challenges since opening, including the COVID pandemic, the energy crisis and the cost-of-living crisis.
No Limits Café & Hub says its funding model has been ‘greatly affected’ by the numerous changes over the last five years.
Recently, the café experienced disruption to it funding for employment support from the DWP Access to Work program.
Additionally, the upcoming financial year would bring an increase of £17,000 in Employer National Insurance contributions.
Director of Café Operations, Amanda Pugh, and Director and Supported Employment Lead, Sarah Thorp, said: ‘Despite the central government’s rhetoric indicating a desire to reduce unemployment and support individuals with disabilities in finding work, the financial barriers we face continue to grow.
‘In contrast to this rhetoric, the DWP department responsible for reducing barriers and supporting adults in securing paid employment has consistently failed to deliver.
‘Our successful Crowdfunder, which garnered immense support from the local community last year, helped us accomplish remarkable things allowed us to operate for a further nine months.
‘The funds helped us cover core operational costs, and bridge gaps caused by DWP delays and contested awards.’
The café have supported a further 22 individuals through Work Experience programmes, as well as six individuals a week through long term placements.
However, the need for long-term financial solutions has rendered this project financially unsustainable, the café, which is run as a Community Interest Company, said.
‘The café has achieved so much and is vital to the community, its staff, and its participants’ Amanda and Sarah said.
‘It is heartbreaking to see it face closure’ they added.
No Limits Café & Hub have helped seven students complete supported internships in collaboration with local specialist and mainstream colleges, with one young person successfully completing a Supported Apprenticeship.
The café also provided a crucial social outlet through its "Social Saturdays" for adults it has worked with, who might otherwise feel isolated after leaving.
In January 2023, No Limits launched a Supported Employment Outreach service to assist adults in finding paid employment.
This service targeted individuals who may have completed work experience or those seeking work outside of hospitality, but facing additional barriers, such as disabilities or neurodivergence.
Through its program the café have supported 19 adults in securing paid employment.
The supported employment model used by No Limits is based on the evidence-based accredited model from the British Association of Supported Employment.
This model now underpins one of two methods central to the new DWP-funded Connect to Work Scheme, set to launch nationwide this year and providing central funding for supported employment for the first time.
No Limits has played a significant role in the pilot work contributing to how this will be implemented across Devon.
Amanda and Sarah said: ‘Our employees and customers often describe our café as "inclusive," "friendly," "supportive," "rewarding," and "fun."
‘In today's social, economic, and political climate, more workplaces could certainly benefit from such an environment.
‘While our support model is self-sustaining, the current challenges have made the café itself unsustainable.
‘All our placements were supported by qualified and skilled job coaches providing tailored one-on-one assistance to ensure participants received the necessary support to succeed, thrive, and contribute to the team.
‘Funding for this high-level support has come from various sources, all under significant strain.
‘We would like to thank all our participants over the years, the amazing staff, local companies and organisations who have supported us all along (too many to mention with the risk of leaving anybody out), funding bodies who have supported us, especially the National Lottery Reaching Community Fund and the local community for embracing our project.
‘We are taking the last few days of operating to enjoy all our achievements and support our amazing staff.
‘We would really appreciate any local businesses who may need dedicated, loyal staff, especially in hospitality, support work and job coaching to get in touch.’