New cafe at Sutton Life Centre to provide training and work experience for people with SEND

Sutton Council and Nickel Support, a community interest company dedicated to supporting adults with learning disabilities, are joining forces once again to open a cafe at the Sutton Life Centre. 

The cafe, due to open later this year, will provide a welcoming space for the community whilst providing training and work experience for people with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND).

Building on the success of a similar venture, Beans and Bloom, which opened last year in Cheam’s Whitehall Historic House, the new cafe will support people with SEND. The cafe will serve hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, and snacks from Monday to Friday initially, 9.30am - 5pm.

As well as a new cafe, Orchard Hill College, an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ specialist college, will be opening a campus at the Centre to provide young people with SEND the opportunity to get the skills, qualifications and work experience for future employment. Plus a new Preparation for Adulthood Hub will also open to help young people with SEND transition into adulthood.

Elena Nicola, Service Director and Co-CEO from Nickel Support said: “We’re really excited for this new cafe at the Sutton Life Centre. It will provide valuable training opportunities for people with SEND, helping them develop essential skills for future employment. Beans and Bloom, our cafe in Whitehall Historic House, has been very successful and we look forward to seeing similar success at the Sutton Life Centre.”

Councillor Marian James, Lead Member for Adults and Children’s Services said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Nickel Support once more. The new cafe will offer an important community space while providing training and work experience that supports people with SEND in gaining employment. With the addition of the new SEND college, this cafe, and the Preparation for Adulthood Hub, the Sutton Life Centre will be transformed into a lively community hub for everyone to enjoy.”