Tyfu Café - A Big Issue Cymru Big List Subscriber

 
Tyfu Café is a social enterprise established by Drugaid which opens to the public on 10th April 2012. Based in Caerphilly town centre, it offers work experience, training and development opportunities to volunteers from the local community. The café itself provides healthy and delicious food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Bridget Lafferty, Tyfu Co-ordinator, explains why Tyfu Café supports the Big Issue.

Q. Can you explain more about what Tyfu Cafe can offer?

Our aim is to provide healthy and delicious homemade food which has been sourced locally, where possible, and literally does not cost the earth! We will be environmentally friendly and will do everything possible to recycle our waste and reduce our carbon footprint.

The cafe is a social enterprise which means that all profits are reinvested into the business to help it grow and expand. It is staffed by up to 8 volunteers at a time, on 6 month work placements. Volunteers are given the opportunity to work towards a catering qualification or further employment within a supported commercial environment.

Q. What are Tyfu cafe’s goals?

The main aim of Tyfu Café is to provide a route into employment for vulnerable or marginalised adults in the Caerphilly borough. The café offers full training and a 3 – 6 month work placement in a commercial catering environment. Once the placement is completed volunteer staff are provided with an employment reference and support to find paid employment. This will not only support individuals, but will also help the local economy in Caerphilly to grow and develop.
Q. How does the ethos of Tyfu Café fit in with that of The Big Issue Cymru?

Like the Big Issue, Drugaid and Tyfu Café promote the ethos of empowerment and self development. By offering people the opportunity to grow and develop their skills and experience, they are able to move on to bigger and better things, all through their own hard work and self motivation.
Q. What are Tyfu Café’s plans for the future?

Tyfu Café is the first of several social enterprises planned by Drugaid, all with the same ethos of providing valuable work experience, training and development opportunities to those who need them most. We are all very excited about our upcoming plans and are looking forward to being able to share them with you… watch this space!!

Q. Why is the development of Tyfu Café a success?

Tyfu café could not have been developed without the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers involved in the project. It has taken months of planning and hard physical work to get to the stage where we can open to the public and begin to start on the really important task – further developing the skills and experience of the volunteers involved in order for them to move on into paid employment. We are all very excited about opening to the public on 10th April, so please come along and show your support!

Tyfu Café is at 97 Cardiff Rd, Caerphilly, CF83 1FQ. For more information check out our website: www.tyfucommunity.com. Look out for us on Facebook and Twitter too!To find out more about becoming a supporting subscriber, click here