New beginnings Swan Friendship cafe

Update:-
The Swan Friendship Club, on behalf of the Swan Friendship Cafe, wishes to acknowledge the generosity of the public who have donated to try and save the cafe.  
Unfortunately, the funds received were not enough to maintain the on going expenses to run our N.F.P. cafe.

Moving forward the Swan Friendship Club is currently fundraising and investigating the possibility of reopening The Swan Friendship Cafe and are still seeking both government and corporate sponsorship. The funds donated are now in a separate funding account and have not been utilised by the club or the former cafe.


Our Story:-
The Swan Friendship Cafe was a branch of The Swan Friendship Club of Western Australia Inc.  An organisation that continues to provide recreational activities to young people with a disability
and are aiming  to reopen a new cafe/catering not for profit service.  

It all began some 16 years ago when my youngest daughter Rebecca,  after observing her siblings with friends having fun, asked me“where are my Friends” Hearing those words coming from my daughter's mouth led me on the journey to find her some friends.

Frustration at not being able to find suitable programs for Rebecca, led to me starting my own group and programs. Together with a small group of parents we offered activities for young people with disabilities. 

When Rebecca left high school it was evident that there was very little available for herself and others to maintain the skills that they had acquired.

From a skills program that was operating in the City Of Swan, I was offered a cafe location in the Centrepoint Shopping centre in Midland.  

For the past 9 and 1/2 years, the cafe had been provided, training and employment to young people with disabilities.  It had been a great priviliage to watch the growth and development of each of the participants working in a meaningful work environment and learning life long skills.

The Café’s point of difference was that it provided home style food, cooked on the premises, marketed and sold through the café and catering service. The training that these participants received was invaluable to them, as it allowed them to learn hospitality skills.  They were able to experience kitchen hand and front of house duties, as well as developing community skills by engaging with the customers. 

Should we be successful in setting up a new cafe/catering service, a plaque will be created to reflect the generosity of those who have supported the venture through various means, including Go Fund Me.

We are a registered charity which has Deductible Gift Recipient status and we have a Board of Management and the Club is audited on a yearly basis.