Mayfair cafe to provide hospitality training to adults with learning disabilities

A cafe providing on-the-job hospitality training to adults with learning disabilities is to open its first flagship venue in London next month.

Fair Shot Cafe was founded by Bianca Tavella, who helped launch Petersham Nurseries’ restaurant in Covent Garden, in a bid to address the 94% UK unemployment rate for young adults with learning disabilities.

It is opening a venue serving European dishes and speciality coffee on Mayfair’s South Molton Street on 13 December.

Fair Shot provides training, places trainees in paid employment and partners with employers to create jobs. The group works with West London College as well as Action on Disability, which helps provide ongoing support to trainees whilst they are employed.

During the pandemic Tavella raised £300,000 in private funding towards the project and landlord Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has leased the site on favourable terms.

Tavella said: “Currently in the UK, young people with a learning disability face 94% unemployment and for those that do find employment, 80% are either fired or leave due to inadequate support and training.

“With Fair Shot we aim to make real social impact on how business owners hire, train and support this community of extremely willing, extremely capable individuals.”

For more information visit www.fairshot.co.uk