A new cafe at The Focus Centre in Swanage, Dorset, run by the youth group Allsort’d, is all set to open at the end of May 2026 but funds are desperately needed to pay for the finishing touches including kitchen equipment.
The race is now on to get the building work completed, so that Allsort’d, a community group which supports young adults with learning disabilities and autism, can get to work serving refreshments at the wellbeing hub on the corner of Chapel Lane and the High Street.
The stainless steel kitchen has been moved from another part of the building to be reused for the cafe, but still needs to be equipped
Members of Allsort’d have been practising their skills ahead of the cafe’s launch
Warm and inviting space
The repurposed kitchen has already been fitted and a new entrance door knocked though. Work is now concentrating on creating a warm and inviting space for people to sit and chat, plus an improved outdoor area for tables and chairs.
The building work has been funded by a grant from the National Lottery and a private donation, while the private donor has also paid for the cafe furniture.
However as money is still needed to kit out the cafe’s kitchen, the team at The Focus Centre have launched a crowdfunder and are asking for money donations from the community to help get the cafe up and running.
Work is continuing to create the cafe area
The vision is to create an outside cafe area with wildlife-rich planting, plus tables and chairs, if the money can be raised to complete the work
“Help more people understand autism and learning disabilities”
Paula Kirk from Allsort’d said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to get hospitality experience for our guys and we jumped at the chance when we were asked if we wanted to run the Focus Cafe.
“This is just the last stretch to fund pieces of kitchen equipment like a panini grill and other bits and pieces. We also want to improve the outdoor space in front of the cafe to make it more environmentally friendly, as well as a nice space to sit.
“It doesn’t matter how little or how much people are able to contribute – £3 will get us a serving spoon and that gets us one step closer to opening!
“It’s going to be a cafe run by the community for the community – a busy little hub where groups can meet and grab a cup of tea, while also providing work experience and paid opportunities for young people.
“We’d like to link up with a wider group of young people from the local schools to offer work experience, and further down the line, apprenticeships, not just in hospitality but on the care side as well.
“Working alongside each other, it will help more people understand autism and learning disabilities, which can only be a good thing.
“It could also offer young people a chance to stay and work in Purbeck, which is what we need for the future of Swanage.”
Bringing services back to Swanage to serve local people
The new home of Explorers Childcare has got a makeover
Vital community services
The Focus Centre, which is run by the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, offers a family hub providing services for babies and parents, through to older people.
Also on site, there’s wraparound childcare offered by the nursery provider Explorers, plus a Wellbeing Swanage wing which signposts support to meet a variety of needs including mental health issues.
Explorers Childcare has now moved into the old Sure Start children’s centre on the site, which has been refurbished, providing parents with childcare which enables them to work and continue to contribute to the local economy.
Chief executive of the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Ali Tuckey (left) and chair of the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Bob Foster (right) stand where the new doors to the cafe will be installed soon
“Everyone can connect and chat”
Chief executive of Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Ali Tuckey said:
“I would say the cafe is the cherry on top of the cake, but actually the cafe is more important than that and part of the cake itself!
“When people come to the Focus Centre, the cafe will provide a place where everyone can connect and chat, as well as offering a welcoming space where people can find out more about the available services.
“Allsort’d is such a great partner to bring it all together – different people from different backgrounds, disabled, those who wouldn’t consider themselves disabled – I’m very excited about all the opportunities.”
The building, which used to be the day centre for older people, is being restored to cater for the whole of the community but it has been hard work getting there
“It’s been a challenge”
Chair of the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Bob Foster added:
“Our vision has always been to bring all the clinics and healthcare services that we lost, back to Swanage and that’s what we are doing at the Focus Centre.
“The cafe is part of the vision – the shop front of a big site. It’s a community cafe and we will keep prices affordable for local residents but equally we can see holidaymakers walking to or from the beach popping in for refreshments, and they’d be really welcome too.
“It’s been a challenge with all the work required to create the new space for the Focus Cafe but we are nearly there. Hopefully with a final push and with the support of the local community, we can open as planned by the end of May.”
Further information
- Donate to the kitchen and garden crowdfunder
- More about The Focus Centre and Allsort’d
