Date published: 18th June 2021

North Norfolk District Council are thrilled to announce the contract to run the staff restaurant at the Cromer offices has been awarded to local charity About With Friends.

The charity supports adults and children with learning difficulties to live the life they choose and part of their extensive range of services includes their workskills programmed designed to teach skills for life and work.

Within this service AWF have their catering department where members not only learn to cook for themselves, but for outside events such as weddings and corporate hospitality. They also run a very successful café in Cromer town centre, as well as a recently re-launched shop, moving away from a typical charity shop to an outlet for upcycled furniture and items made by its members ranging from bird boxes and art, to t-shirts printed in their workshop with original artwork.

After meeting with the team at AWF, it was clear that they were able to provide healthy, appetising meals and snacks while also giving the opportunity for those involved with the charity to learn essential life skills.

Helen Dalton-Hare BEM, Chief Executive Officer at About with Friends, said: “I can’t tell you how excited everybody is. We will be so proud to provide catering services for our North Norfolk District Council staff. Members are going to get fabulous experience in NNDC’s kitchens and a whole new range of opportunities. We have members who are so ready for this opportunity and are looking forward to meeting everybody at the Council”

NNDC are glad to be leading the way in giving adults with learning difficulties the opportunity to do real work and, with the right support, have the ability to be a successful part of a professional catering service.

Cllr Lucy Shire, NNDC’s Portfolio Holder for Organisational Resources, commented: “I am delighted that we have been able to reflect our drive for equality through the award of this contract and we have helped to create more opportunities for learning new skills. I look forward to the visiting the canteen and meeting the AWF team.”

In addition to its workskills service AWF also provide home support and outreach, respite breaks, adult and children’s leisure services and bespoke service giving individual one to one support.

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I haven’t seen D for ages and he looks like a new man . The stress has gone from his face – he looks great Well done !!!!

Many thanks again for J’s lovely break in Derbyshire with About with Friends. He really enjoyed himself, had loads of fun and told us all about the cable cars, stepping stones, cinema, meals out, etc.! We would be very grateful if you could pass on our sincere thanks to all the staff who organised the holiday and supported our youngsters to enable them to have such a wonderful time. We are also very grateful as we, ourselves, were able to enjoy a short break in Paris, which was wonderful and recharged our batteries!

A big thank you to yourself and the About with Friends staff for another great trip! J had a fantastic time, going on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, which he had wanted to do for ages and ages.

Having spent many years in school with little improvements in I’s behaviour and speech, in just a few weeks with you the improvements in both areas are plain to see. Please continue as you are, as life at the moment for us as a family is greatly improved because of your input.

Just a short note to thank you all for your help with our daughter. she has spent many years at school with little improvement in her behaviour and speech, yet in just a few weeks she has been with you guys the improvements in both areas are plain to see.

I am not sure what the different methods used are but please continue as you are, as life at the moment for us as a family is greatly improved because of your input.

We are very aware of her complex needs and how she can change like the wind but we will continue to enjoy the fruits of your labours.

Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and everyone else that supported H on the recent trip – she had an amazing time. I enjoyed look at the Twitter feed to see what you had been up to.

AWF offers and amazing, caring, supportive group to both special needs adults/children & their families. Since N joined you he has been to some fantastic places, met some amazing friends and done activities we would never have thought he’d do. You have helped our family life improve by making N a happier, more content, confident boy.

Thank you for taking K to Milton Keynes on holiday, it made her extremely happy. Selfishly, it gave my wife a much sought after period of respite after 16 years of constant care.

This is the best transition I have had for a student in the whole five years I have taught 6th formers!

About with Friends and you particularly, have done some great work with excellent outcomes for D. I was particularly pleased to hear that you are working on integration with the Youth Group as I felt he would miss out on peer interaction if he didn’t come to college.