Teas, cakes and SELF-ESTEEM

Inspired by her daughter, one woman made it her mission to support adults with learning disabilities

- KATE CHAPMAN

Carole Goulding had a long-held dream of opening a tea room staffed by learning-disabled adults, and now that it's a reality, the venue is helping dozens of people grow in confidence and self-esteem - including her own daughter.

Carole, 61, was inspired to open a tea room in Friskney, Lincolnshire, to give her 39-year-old daughter, Samantha, and other learning-disabled adults somewhere to develop life skills, gain a sense of purpose and find the confidence to join the workforce. She is thrilled with the opportunities it's bringing the group, who include deaf and blind adults, and others with Down's syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.

'Opening the cafe was something I've thought about for a long time,' says Carole, who was a special needs teacher for 25 years, before starting her own bakery, Grandma's Pudding Co, in 2017. 'Seeing how each individual changes is amazing. They come in with no confidence, no self-esteem, they don't feel like they're worthy, as before they've almost been treated as second-class citizens. But it's really taken off. We started with two learning-disabled adults and now there are 38. Five have left to go into full-time work, which I didn't expect. The social skills they're gaining from the experience are wonderful, and they're connecting with each other.'