Mahaba Café Set to Relaunch on Singapore Road |
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Place for young people with learning disabilities moving from Ealing Project
April 17, 2025 An award-winning coffee shop previously operating from the Ealing Project and Reineta has announced that it has secured a new permanent base. Mahaba Café offers an employability programme tailored to young people in Ealing with learning disabilities. From this May the not-for-profit enterprise will be located on Singapore Road on the Green Man Lane estate in West Ealing. This will enable Mahaba Café to significantly expand its training hours and accommodate even more young people, addressing the fact that only 1.8% of adults in Ealing with learning disabilities are currently employed – well below the London average. Since its launch in September 2023, Ealing local and founder Muriel Morgan Walckiers has already seen 29 young people graduating from the Mahaba Café training scheme. Of those graduates actively seeking full-time employment, 57% have been successful. Beyond Mahaba Café’s core function, it also aims to be a place for the residents of Ealing and beyond to enjoy coffee and snacks Muriel Morgan Walckiers says, "It’s unacceptable that so many talented young people with learning disabilities are overlooked for employment and face unnecessary barriers. At Mahaba Café, we firmly believe that every young person deserves the same opportunities to work and thrive. This new café isn't just a coffee shop; it's a social enterprise for good, a place where we're brewing real change. We're creating a space where everyone belongs. We can’t wait to open our doors and share this space with Ealing.” Mahaba Café is reaching out to local businesses throughout West London to forge partnerships and build a strong network of support. Muriel continues, “We have been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with supportive local businesses like Reineta, the Ealing Project, and Bobo Social. Now, we are reaching out to our new neighbouring businesses and the wider West London community to join us in championing employment equality in Ealing and beyond. It's vital and not difficult to make a life-changing difference to talented and exceptional young people. We urge businesses to come and visit us to see first-hand the transformational impact we are delivering.” Local businesses are invited to contact Muriel by emailing info@mahabacafe.org. To find out more about volunteering, contact zoemahabacafe@gmail.com.
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