A CHARITY dedicated to preparing young adults with special educational needs and difficulties for adult life is gearing up to open a community café.

Learning for Life, based in Consett, provides education and social care for young people aged 16 and over who have a diverse range of complex needs and disabilities.

The charity’s learners used to help volunteers at the old Citizens House building run the Oasis café every other week.

After the community hub received lottery funding to rebuild and open a new purpose-built facility last month, volunteer Sylvia Lewins is once again welcoming Learning for Life, who are running the Oasis for Life Café.

The project is focused on giving the young learners the chance to get regular hands-on work experience in a welcoming community setting.

Marie Matthewson, principal and head of services at Learning for Life, said: “Oasis for Life is all about inclusivity and breaking down barriers.

“We want to create an atmosphere where people can feel confident, secure and safe in a welcoming environment that embraces all diversities.

“It’s an amazing project that’s creating real jobs.”

To help get the café workers ready for their new jobs, personalised uniform specialists Workwear Express donated 20 brand new aprons for the learners to use, featuring the café’s name and logo printed across the front.

Ms Matthewson said: “It’s absolutely vital to have smart, practical uniforms with the right branding, because what we want to relay is that the café is a professional organisation.

“The young people working at the café have disabilities, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a professional workplace.

“If they have access to a smart uniform, it will do wonders for their self-esteem.

“They were delighted when the aprons arrived. Their faces just lit up.

“It was really uplifting to see our young people so proud of what they’re wearing.”

The will launch with an open day on June 22 from 11am to 3pm.