A CAFE ran by students with autism has had its official opening.
Students of LEAP college welcomed the community to the grand opening of the cafe and preloved shop earlier this month which received a positive response from locals.
The newly-opened cafe and shop is based at the Lyme and Wood Learning Hub on Vista Road, Newton-le-Willows, and is a space for students to develop skills and learn about sustainibility.
The new site, funded by MRWA's Community Fund, will see repurposed items on sale at the shop and hot drinks and snacks at the cafe; all catered by the LEAP college students.
Kate Wellock, P.A to the Senior Leadership Team, said: "The Preloved Project Shop and Cafe is run by students from LEAP College - a specialist provision for young autistic adults.
"The aim of the project is to promote more sustainable ways of living through the reuse or repurposing of a range of everyday items, and to offer opportunities for those within the local and wider community to develop the skills they need to do so whilst creating additional opportunities for students in LEAP to develop their vocational skills in sectors such as woodwork, horticulture, retail and hospitality.
"The shop sells pre-loved items such as clothing, footwear and products handcrafted from materials such as reclaimed timber and textiles and is an official stockist of ReColour paint - a chalk paint made from recycled emulsion.
READ > Autism charity rebrand sees college relocate into St Helens
"There is also a furniture upcycling scheme which allows customers to select a piece of furniture to be upcycled using any of the colours from the ReColour range, as well as any other tweaks they wish to be made."
Free 'sustainable living' workshops will also take place on site and is open to the community.
For further information, visit The Preloved Project Instagram page @theprelovedproject_leap or email theprelovedproject@wargravehouse.com.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here