A new cafe in Bulwell which opened over the summer has been described as the beating heart of the community. The Alice in Wonderland-themed Curious Cafe and gift shop is located on Main Street in Bulwell.
A community interest company, Learning in Fun Environment (LIFE) runs the cafe and learning provision. The team decided to start looking for new site when they heard a former doctor's surgery was available. The cafe has become a wonderland paradise complete with blossom trees, flamingos and a chessboard trail leading into the building.
It has opened within the former Springfield Medical Centre building. The surgery closed earlier this year because the partners behind it retired - and more than 2,500 patients moved over to the Practice St Albans and Nirmala, less than 500 metres away. LIFE, which provides working opportunities for adults with learning difficulties from the age of 19, was opened by Nottingham North's Labour and Co-operative MP Alex Norris.
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Director Suzie Wright said the cafe works with student who serve, chat and check on customers. In doing so, they learn different skills and get to meet members of the local community.
"We always wanted to run a cafe to showcase what students with disabilities are able to do and break down some of the barriers and misconceptions surrounding special needs. When I heard this building was going to be available, I approached the doctor who was really keen for us to move in," she said.
"There are a lot of cafes and charity shops in Bulwell so I wanted to do something that would stand out. We did our research and spoke to local people about what they wanted. They wanted somewhere children would be able to go to so I decided to make it a themed cafe and Alice in Wonderland fit that theme."
The cafe is beautifully decorated with plenty of Mad Hatter hats, Alice illustrations and a cake stand of knitted afternoon tea delights. "We haven't run a cafe before so this is a new venture for all of us.
"We wanted to engage the students with work experience for their level and pace but we still run the learning provision at the back so it's all connected. The students look at independent living skills such as shopping, travel and personal safety here," she said.
"Some of the students have loved it when they have tried it and you can see their confidence growing. In the beginning, they don't want to say anything to anyone but now they want to take orders and speak to customers. Others tried it but don't like it or want to have anything to do with it but it's nice as the option is there."
She added: "They can sit and engage with people which is nice for us because we get to showcase the students at their best. It's nice for the public because a lot of people don't get to come into contact with people with learning difficulties in their own environment."
The cafe runs several initiatives aimed at supporting people who may be struggling with loneliness or the cost of living increases. They operate a 'chatter and natter' table where customers can come in on their own, sit and be joined by others for a random discussion. There is also a 'coffee and kindness' board where customers can pay for a coffee in advance for another person.
"If you come in with a family, the kids want ice cream but you are short of cash then you can take the cards on the board and no one needs to know about it. We are very discreet and, when you go to pay, you just hand those over. No one will say anything and it's paid for," Suzie explained.
The cafe also places surplus food outside for the community to help themselves. They receive food from FareShare, the UK's national network of charitable food redistributors publicly backed by Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.
Reaction from the community has been incredible but it can be a struggle to let people know that the cafe is there. Suzie feels a huge sense of pride in watching the interaction between the community and the students. She has plans to develop the cafe further to offer even more things for people with special needs.
"It's been amazing but our biggest struggle is that people don't know we are here but we've heard genuinely positive things. We have a family that calls the cafe their 'happy place' and come every weekend. We have another lady who said we are becoming the 'beating heart of Bulwell'," she said.
"All of these things make it worthwhile. We are also talking about setting up a memory cafe for people with Alzheimer's or dementia. It can be a lifeline for people and parents. too. Young children who come here are getting to know people with learning difficulties which helps to break down some of the barriers that people can build up."
Before the Springfield Medical Centre closed, patients and doctors expressed concerns over the merger, with the chief of the Local Medicine Committee telling a CCG committee last year that GPs had "big concerns" over the expansion of St Alban's US owners, Operose.
However, Vicky Gavin, practice manager at the Practice St Albans and Nirmala, previously said the team was "ready to look after everyone". Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this month that a separate Alice in Wonderland-themed tea room in Kimberley was being taken over by new owners.
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