Celebration of achievements of Dumfries and Galloway Young people with additional support needs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The huge achievements of people from the region with additional support needs have been celebrated.Almost a hundred people gathered at The Usual Place cafe in Dumfries recently to support the SVQ graduation ceremony – compered by Lee Medd – which has been held up for three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Seventeen graduates who have all worked and studied in the award-winning Usual Place took to the stage to receive their certificates achieved during the past three years and presented by Dumfriesshire deputy lord lieutenant, Hardip Atwal, the chief executive of Inspired Community Enterprise Trust, Heather Hall, and chef assessor, Tony Budde, of Dumfries and Galloway College.Heather said that while many customers are great supporters of the ethos of the café – serving from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday – few people really grasp the depth and breadth of the work that goes on behind the scenes and “the huge personal achievements that go in to creating the welcoming, clean atmosphere and delicious food that so many enjoy”.All produce is freshly cooked, baked and prepared by the team of trainees and mentors on the premises in the beautifully refurbished former church building.The class of 2022 graduated with SVQ qualifications in professional cookery and hospitality and included 12 young people with additional support needs who have worked with The Usual Place’s SVQ co-ordinator, Gail Kempsell, and mentor, Fiona Horsburgh, as well as members of staff on the kitchen and front of house teams who are also day-to-day mentors.Many of these mentors have also elected to study the SVQ and some received their certificates on stage alongside the young people.The professional cookery graduates are David McAleese, Debbie Reidie,