MP visits Beacon Plus Community Café

Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone & Hythe, stopped by the Beacon Plus Community Café to see all the hard work and sweet treats the learners have been cooking up.

The community café is run by young people (aged 19 to 25) at The Beacon Plus, helping them gain vital experience as they go on to seek full-time employment. Situated in Abercrombie’s, part of the South Kent Mind resource centre, the café offers a range of treats from light lunches and handmade cakes to tea and coffee. This week, Damian Collins had the opportunity to meet the staff and see first-hand the hard work that they put into their bakes.

“It was a privilege to visit the Beacon Plus Community Café and bakery and see first-hand the enthusiasm that has gone into their new venture with South Kent Mind. The learners demonstrated how their work-based learning environment provides vital employment skills and boosts their confidence to go into paid employment. I wish them every success and encourage everyone to visit this new asset to the community.” 

Damian Collins, Member of Parliament for Folkestone & Hythe

Simon Dolby, CEO of South Kent Mind, said: “I’d like to thank Damian for taking the time to drop in to the community café and chat with the learners, who are continuing to make the space warm and inviting to everyone who visits. We are proud to support the café and look forward to what The Beacon Plus have on the menu for the future!”

If you’d like to pop in to The Beacon Plus Community Café for a quick bite or a cup of coffee, it is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10am to 3pm.