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Our Cafe

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Serving locally sourced food and drink, the People First Café is run by local people with learning difficulties and provides a safe space to learn skills and access meaningful opportunities.

A café based on kindness

Based in the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria, The People First Café occupies a special location. At the heart of a busy centre where people are receiving treatment by NHS teams, the Café is a meeting point that offers much more than food and drink.

Alongside nourishing refreshments, The Café’s team work together with NHS staff to share warmth, a supportive smile, kindness and conversation. Based in the Cancer Centre’s Reception Area, the café is a proud element of Carlisle’s newest and most cutting edge medical facility.

A unique work placement

Having a job is something that seems so simple to so many. All too often people with learning difficulties are not given the support and opportunity they need to enter the world of work.

We believe that everyone should be able to live their lives the way they want to. For many of the people we work with that means securing employment in a supportive environment. That’s what the People First Café is about. Bringing together the world of delicious food and drink and learning to offer a powerful opportunity for people with learning difficulties to enter the workforce.

It is a true honour to operate a café in the surroundings of the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria. Few locations have as big of an impact on people’s lives as this centre.

Our team see the dedication and the impact of the work that happens here firsthand. We are proud to be a part of this setting providing much needed and deserved refreshment for NHS heroes, patients and their families

- David Blacklock CEO People First 

Our home made food and drinks

Our values shape everything we do

  • Abigail
    Hospitality Academy Job Coach
  • Alan
    Chef
  • Caron
    Kitchen Team Leader
  • Kerry
    Sessional Café Assistant
  • Luke
    Conference Centre Manager
  • Marcus
    Kitchen Assistant
  • Neil
    Estates Officer
  • Nicola
    Receptionist & Administrator
  • Paul
    Estates Officer
  • Ted
    Sessional
  • Tracy
    Chef
  • Trish
    Cafe Team Leader
  • Victoria
    Cafe Team Leader
  • Walter
    Estates Officer

    Frequently Asked Questions

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