A TRAINING cafe supporting people with learning disabilities has been given a top award.
Workers at Whitehaven's Cafe West, based on King Street, are celebrating after winning the Cumbrian Enterprise of the Year Award 2018 by Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership.
The award was handed to charity West House, for the work it does at its cafes in Whitehaven, Workington and Keswick, at its garden centre in Allerby and pottery workshop in Workington.
Cafe West is run as a training cafe for people with learning disabilities, providing a real work setting where they can acquire the necessary skills and qualifications to gain paid employment in the open market.
Support worker at the Whitehaven cafe, Michelle Smith, said there's around 20 service users at the cafe.
"They gain confidence here and are treated as they should be," she said. "We give them the skills they need to get into paid employment."
The Royal Pub, on King Street, has recently donated £500 to the service users which will be used to take them on a day out, added Michelle.
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