The Power Of Friends

Wendy Brierley shares the life-changing work of Norfolk charity About With Friends, helping those with additional needs

- Wendy Brierley

For 23 years, the charity About With Friends has been on a mission to provide people with learning difficulties the opportunities which they deserve, but are often denied.

The charity CEO and founder, Helen Dalton-Hare (BEM) noticed there was a lack of services available for adults and young people with learning disabilities and their families, and so the charity was born in 2000.

Based in the Norfolk town of Cromer, the charity offers supported living for those with learning disabilities, as well as offering them opportunities to gain important life skills and work experience.

A big part of this is a community café and shop in Cromer, where members of About With Friends cook and serve in the café, make crafts and sell these in the shop, taking away valuable skills.

"The one thing we definitely are not is a day care," Wendy Brierley, who works as support staff in the community café and shop, says. "In fact, we couldn't be further from it. Our amazing members essentially run the café and shop. My role is to support, encourage and help them blossom into their full potential."

In the café, Wendy oversees the kitchen, supervising baking and the preparation of lunches, as well as encouraging the members who provide table service, which can be particularly challenging for them.