The Birch Tree Café is a place where young people who have Down’s Syndrome can work, socialize, and be accepted as part of a vibrant village community.

We offer great quality, casual food and drink in spacious, attractive surroundings. The café will help our enthusiastic young staff members develop workplace skills and confidence, thereby improving their employment prospects and independence, so they can realise their own ambitions.

We welcome everyone to the café; locals, visitors, walkers, cyclists, workers, laptop drivers, mums, dads, kids, and even dogs (outside please). We have loads of room inside and 2 outside terraces, car parking, bike stands, free wifi, and even a screen and data projector for events. Talk to us about group visits or any general enquiries by emailing our Manager, call us on 01780 763644.

There’s more information about T-21 here.

 

The problems for many of our members is that now they have completed their formal education there is a major lack of opportunities for them. Only 6% of adults with learning disabilities known to their local authority are in paid work (NHS Digital 2018).

Loneliness in people with learning disabilities is linked toseveralhealth risks, such as depression, high blood pressure and higher mortality risk.

Three years ago, a group of parents and trustees from the local Peterborough Area Down’s Syndrome Group came up with a fantastic idea to launch a café. This group set up “T-21”, a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation, (Registered no 1180389), with the aim of opening a café that will provide a safe working environment with training for our members with Down’s syndrome that will lead to recognised certificates of employment, while also serving as a café for the local community and visitors.

We are driven by the need to empower our young people to improve their lives.

It has taken those three years to find the amazing site which is part of the former Easton Garford School in Easton on the Hill, a rural village in Northamptonshire with a population of 1,100.

Funding to convert and equip the building and launch our wonderful café has come from many grants and donations, and from many local businesses and tradespeople who have given their services and materials for free or at reduced rates.

We hope that we can become a feature of the local community and a destination for visitors, for the benefit of our members.