MP Richard Arkless has today tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the UK Government to support charity based businesses such as The Usual Place community café in Dumfries.
The Usual Place helps many young adults with additional support needs work towards achieving an SVQ Level 1 in the Hospitality industry. The former Townhead Church on the corner of Lover’s Walk and Academy Street in the centre of Dumfries has been redeveloped as a spacious contemporary venue which retains many original features of the old building whilst providing full disabled access and a changing places toilet. The building also offers various meeting rooms and training facilities for hire at reasonable rates.
The Early Day Motion reads:
“That this house states its support for local charity based businesses like ‘The Usual Place café’ in Dumfries whose core objective is to create employability, training and wider citizenship opportunities for young adults with additional support needs; is committed to offering prospects like these in communities across Scotland and welcomes the aim of awarding qualifications to those who seek employment in the catering and hospitality industry; acknowledges that employability within this sector is crucial to the long term survival of towns and villages who rely on tourism to keep going; will actively pursue the Department for Work and Pensions to recognise this opportunity for individuals with additional support needs as one that will lead to eventual employment and training, and that will not hinder any access to benefit that may be entitled to a claimant given their circumstances.”
The Usual Place café was set up by the Inspired Community Enterprise Trust with support from various funders including The Big Lottery Fund, The Holywood Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council, NHS Dumfries & Galloway, The Wooden Spoon and Solway Heritage.
Following a recent visit to The Usual Place, Richard Arkless MP commented:
“This café creates wonderful opportunities for employment and training for young adults with additional support needs. Having additional leaning needs should not hold young people back and this relaxed and friendly café provides a safe and caring environment for young adults to fulfil their learning potential.
“I want to ensure that staff who are working hard to gain experience and get qualified do not lose out on any entitlements from the Department for Work and Pensions. Using their new skills and experience in this extraordinary community café should be recognised as a positive step to finding work and my office will continue to communicate with the DWP to ensure this position is stuck to.”
Mr Arkless added:
“I’m from a hospitality background myself and I fully appreciate the important role it plays in the tourism industry as a whole. I commend the work of The Usual Place café as it not only provides opportunities for our young people but also gives people another very good reason to visit the wonderful town of Dumfries”.
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