New tea room serves up opportunities for learning disabled

GPC specialist tea room C.I.C is offering more than just teas, coffee, cake and puddings to its customers - it will help to develop skills for local learning disabled adults.

The tea loaf bakery based in Friskney is set to open its tea room on Tuesday, August 4.

Staff will experience independence, learning about customer service, hygiene and money handling and, hopefully, this will raise their self-esteem and self-worth.

Carole Goulding, director of GPC specialist tea room C.I.C, said: "Learners will be coming from all over the county, some working part-time, some full-time, but all will be learning in a caring, experienced environment.

"Local specialist colleges, schools and care providers are already on board with parents of learning disabled adults, too."

The tea room is a non for profit business and has to survive financially on its own.

Quality cakes and puddings will be supplied at cost from Grandma’s Pudding Co, an already established

bakery, known for its quality traditionally made, bread puddings, tea loaves and puddings.

"The idea has been in my mind for some 20 years, having come across a similar tea room in Kent, where the owners had a vineyard and a visitors tea room," Carole explained.

"It was totally served by learning disabled adults.

"We spoke to the owners who had a learning disabled daughter and they told us there were few places

where their daughter could feel valued and confident in the work place, so they set it up themselves.”

As Carole has a learning disabled daughter, the idea stuck in her mind and opening the cafe will be a dream come true.

“Life has changed somewhat over the past four years and we now have the opportunity to make our dream

a reality.” Carole said

“Some local companies, Buildbase, Boston, Lincs locks of Old Leake, B Murphy Electrical Services of

Friskney, Hodgson & Sons builders of Friskney, Alexandra carpets of Skegness and Instance Automatics Ltd of Sutton on Sea have all lent a helping hand by donating some equipment or services.

"Without it we would not have got it this far. “

“We had some decking donated by local business man Malcolm Pates, which will enable us to create

disabled access.

"We still are struggling with some things outside, so if anyone has shingle to make a drive through to the tea room, or plants, picket fencing, trees or shrubs, please make contact.

“We’ve had to change around things a little due to Covid, but believe our changes, follow the

Government guidelines and we have taken a lot of thought into still creating the ambience we want with

these in mind.”

The tea room will open initially on a Tuesday and Friday from 10.30am to 3.30pm and is hoped to eventually open all week depending on its customers and volunteers being available.

It is situated on Howgarth Lane, Friskney PE22 8PQ.

Anyone who would like to help should call Carole on 07899953448 or email [email protected].