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Five star service from charity café

Five star service from charity café A social enterprise café is going from strength to strength after picking up glowing reviews from customers.

The cafe, operated by the Yellow Submarine charity in the Windrush Leisure Centre, has earned a string of five star reviews on TripAdvisor, as well as attracting a growing number of regular customers.

One reviewer said: “Love this place and all that it stands for. Great ethos, friendly service, delicious food and excellent prices. Another added: “Great food and great drinks … do yourself and your community a favour!”

Paul Stanton Humphreys and Ian RigsbyThe success of the venture just six months after it was officially opened by David Cameron, Prime Minister and Witney MP, has delighted everyone involved with the venture, not least the young people with learning disabilities who operate it.

Ian Rigsby, 27, who has worked as an apprentice at the café since last September, said: “I used to have a job as a cleaner but this is much better as I feel my confidence has really grown.
“I really enjoy working here - the best part is meeting customers and I would love to carry that on into a full-time job.”

Yellow Submarine employs seven apprentices and four trainees in Witney and at its sister café in Oxford with local apprentices attending a customer service course at Abingdon and Witney College.

Paul Stanton Humphreys, Head of Enterprises at Yellow Submarine, said: “We are delighted with our success in Witney and the café will continue to grow.
“It is not just about the feedback we are receiving on TripAdvisor and social media, customers are coming back time after time and telling us about the brilliant service and how good the café looks.”

The project is run in conjunction with West Oxfordshire District Council which provided more than £30k towards renovations and GLL, the leisure contractor which manages the centre on the Council’s behalf.

Cllr James Mills, the District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Health, said: “It is fantastic to see how the café is thriving in such a short space of time.
“I am sure it will go from strength to strength with people enjoying great food and drink in the knowledge they are supporting a wonderful cause.”

Notes: Photo shows: L-R: Paul Stanton Humphreys, Head of Enterprises at Yellow Submarine and apprentice Ian Rigsby

Posted : 22/01/2016 09:57:27

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