The About With Friends charity, based in North Norfolk, opens Friends Bistro today in Cromer. Founder Helen Dalton-Hare (pictured left) explains the latest way the charity is giving young people and adults with learning disabilities the chance to lead the lives they choose
We last featured you at the end of 2022, around the 20th anniversary of About With Friends – can you remind people of your mission?
Our mission never changes: to provide the best support possible to our membership who are children and adults with learning disabilities – to enable them to live the lives of their choosing, gain skills and confidence for life, be a strong part of their communities and have strong friendships. Year on year members skills grow, our team of supporters get bigger and bigger, and we achieve our aims.
How has the past 18 months been for the charity?
All has been well. We have managed to meet several of our targets – one, to purchase the site (with four of our offices and buildings on) which we did last year and is now saving us huge amounts of rent. This has been an aim for at least seven years, and now gives us security, as opposed to the landlord selling it on. We also successfully tendered for the Bistro in North Lodge Park. There was lots of competition, but the North Norfolk District council chose us. We were thrilled.
Is Friends Bistro the latest development? How did the launch go and when does it open?
The launch on Friday 17th May went extremely well, with lots of visitors including our MP Duncan Baker and Chief executive of the North Norfolk District Council Steve Blatch. We took the opportunity of inviting and thanking all the staff and tradespeople who had been part of getting it ready. Members handed out delicious canapes during the occasion – which people really enjoyed.
What can visitors expect? What food and drink are on offer?
The tearooms provide hot and cold drinks and cakes, but also sausage rolls, toasties and other delicious treats. The Bistro lunch menu (12-2.30pm) has a range of salad bowls, sandwiches and ciabattas, delicious soups, pastas and burgers – also a catch of the day. The dinner menu (5-8pm) has a range of lovely starters, including lots of locally sourced products, crab cake, ham terrines, mousses, tartlets, croquettes and soups. For mains, there is a catch of the day, bavettes, pasta, vegetarian options, chicken, burgers, with a range of delicious puddings. The bar will be open 12 noon to 10pm, offering a range of beers, wines, and spirits including specialist Norfolk gins.
Any more plans you can share?
For there to be opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to be trained and then achieve paid work; and for the bistro to become a well-known site of culinary excellence, with a warm welcome, children welcomed, and perhaps one day our chef to gain a Michelin star, or AA Rosette!
Friends Bistro, North Lodge Park, Cromer, is open Thursday/Friday/Saturday, from 12 noon to 10pm (last table booking 9pm), and alternate Sundays from June 2, 2024. Visit friends-bistro.co.uk, call 01263 889295, or email info@aboutwithfriends.co.uk.
Featured image of AWF Founder and Executive Director Helen Dalton-Hare (left) and CEO Sam Harwood. All images supplied
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