There’s a lovely cafe in Roundhay that’s run almost entirely by adults living with disabilities like Down’s syndrome, autism and loss of hearing.
Called Cafe Leep, it’s an extension of Leep 1 – a self-advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities that launched about ten years ago.
The cafe itself opened in 2015 and was very busy pre-covid. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible, and there’s a daily specials menu that uses up donated supermarket food from FareShare that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Here people can learn the skills they need to progress into the world of paid work, like preparing and cooking food, food safety hygiene, applying for jobs, interview techniques and professional etiquette.
The cafe serves a full breakfast and lunch menu, with morning favourites like the full English, bacon sandwich and toasted teacakes all good and present as you’d expect.
There’s a good selection of veggie options on offer, with daily specials, omelettes, baked potatoes, cold and warm sandwiches, toasties, burgers and salads all making appearance at lunch.
And of course there’s a good supply of coffee, tea and cake to get stuck into all day long.
Staff range from 19 to 62, and all undertake a level 1 or 2 NVQ programme in food safety whilst training at Cafe Leep. Four or five also go for professional barista training at Caffe Society in Sherburn In Elmet.
When it initially opened, the plan was to just sell coffee and cake but after manager Angie Marshall came on board with significant catering expertise she decided to introduce a bigger menu.
Now as well as serving customers in the day, Cafe Leep also runs several cooking classes a week and provides catering for functions and events. There’s also the hope of expanding into the city centre and opening a second site, Cafe Leep 2.
The cafe is currently running a fundraiser to replace their coffee machine after the old one broke during lockdown. The new machine is crucial to helping with staff’s coffee training.
It states: “Café Leep wants to change people’s perceptions of adults with learning disabilities and see their abilities and Not disabilities by helping our trainees gain qualifications and employment.”
So far, they’ve raised £4,635 of the £5,000 target, If you’d like to donate to Cafe Leep’s GoFundMe campaign, visit the GoFundMe website.
