Good Sammy is excited to announce its plans to open a social enterprise cafe in West Leederville that will provide hospitality employment opportunities for people with disability.
As reported by Lloyd Gorman in Post Newspapers on Saturday 1 April, Town of Cambridge councillors awarded the lease for the old No. 86 Youth Centre building on Cambridge Street to Good Sammy at their council meeting on Tuesday 28 March.
“It’s just such a wonderful story to get a cafe staffed by people with a disability,” Cambridge Mayor Keri Shannon said. “I don’t think we could get a better fit.”
Subject to Good Sammy Board approval, the organisation will commence preliminary planning and fit out works to optimise the available space at 86 Cambridge Street to create a contemporary, accessible and inclusive eatery, including an alfresco dining area that will overlook adjacent Holyrood Park.
Good Sammy Chief Executive Officer Kane Blackman said the café would employ up to 20 people and offer on-the-job training to employees with disabilities.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the council’s decision,” he said.
“This building has been dormant for years. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to open its doors to the community within the thriving Holyrood Precinct.
We are intent in creating a community space that can be enjoyed by many – a truly inclusive and diverse social enterprise model.
“We will be focused on providing a quality experience to customers and job opportunities for people with disability.
While the unemployment rate is around 3% in this community, it is 20% if you are a person with intellectual disability. We want to shift that dial”.
Good Sammy hopes to officially open the café in the second half of the year.”
