TUCKED away in the heart of Divis is a calm, culinary oasis that has brought healthy eating to the hungry masses of the Lower Falls. But there’s more to the Loaf Café and Corporate Catering Company than simply good food and coffee. Established by the NØW over three years ago in the Maureen Sheehan Healthy Living Centre, Loaf gives people with severe learning difficulties the chance to gain accredited training and qualifications in a professional working environment. And profits made from Loaf go back into NØW to help deliver local services for people with learning disabilities from West and North Belfast.

“Our aim is to enable local people with learning difficulties to get the job they want and keep it,” said NØW Chief Executive, Maeve Monaghan. “We are using the idea of a social enterprise model, so you have a business that helps people gain training and qualifications in a realistic working environment. It’s one of three such café’s we have in Belfast, and upstairs we have the corporate catering end of the business that delivers outside catering to parties, functions. Any money we make goes back into the local community.”

The idea for Loaf came to the NØW charity four years ago. “We decided we needed a brand for our social enterprise businesses,” said Maeve. “Just because you’re a social enterprise business or your working with people with disabilities does not mean you’re any less professional than other companies,” said Maeve. “Potential trainees hear about us from their social workers, through their schools and sometimes through word-of-mouth. As long as they clearly have a learning disability they are welcome to work here and receive training.”

Trainees at Loaf study for such qualifications as NVQ Levels 1 and 2 in Catering and Hospitality, Food Preparation and Cooking, Essential Food Hygiene, and professional ‘Barista’ coffee making. “The people that come through here do go onto the get jobs elsewhere,” continued Maeve. “We’ve an employment and training team part funded by European Social Fund, Disablement Advisory Service and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust that support the individuals in getting work once they are qualified.”

One such trainee to benefit from Loaf’s good work is Paula Toal, who has worked and trained at the café for the past year. “I wanted to get out of the house and meet people. I wasn’t doing much and didn’t have many friends,” said Paula, who has a learning disability and is currently training for an NVQ Level One in Food Preparation and Cooking. “But since I started here I’ve made loads of friends. I train here three-days-a-week but I would work all week if I could. I’m also doing my NVQ, which I’m getting through quite quickly.”

Paula’s progress with Loaf saw her win a bronze medal in catering at the recent CATEX Hospitality Awards in Dublin. “I won it for my Spaghetti Bolognaise,” said Paula. “I was very nervous. I’d love to do more competitions. It was hard working in a new kitchen but I did ok. Lots of people were watching me cook and they were taking photographs of me too.” Paula says she enjoys every aspect of her training at Loaf. “I love it all but I really love serving people the best,” she said. “In the future I want to work in a kitchen and cook professionally. I’m more confident now when dealing with people than I used to be.”

For more information of the Loaf Café and Corporate Catering Business, visit www.loafcatering.com or find out more about NOW at www.nowproject.co.uk