Opportunitea Café opens at Holmer Green sports Association

The Opportunitea Café, which is based within the village’s sport centre along Watchet Lane, unveiled itself to the public on Monday, September 9, but invited guests and council delegates to the official ceremony on Tuesday, September 17.

The café provides anyone over the age of 18 the chance to gain valuable experience in a working environment, with hopes of entering the workforce.

Many people attended the opening ceremony (Image: NQ)

Chief operating officer, Victoria Fallon, who addressed those in attendance on Tuesday morning, said: “It really means a lot to us that everyone is here.

“We’ve had your help, support and encouragement and we wouldn’t be here today without it.

“The café has been a long time in the making – in fact, it’s been years.

“We’ve had a few false starts at various venues, but in our minds, this is the right place.

“The response we got from the recent survey about a location was incredible because we had people sending us well wishes and suggestions – it got so much interest.

Buckinghamshire Chair Mimi Harker attended the event (Image: NQ)“We have been welcomed.”

The café’s launch was off the back of funding being cut in 2012 from Buckinghamshire County Council to support those in the area with learning disabilities.

Since then, numerous residents across High Wycombe, Holmer Green, Aylesbury and various other areas of the county have joined forced to try and champion those in need.

And their hard work as paid off with numerous activities now taking place across the area.

Claire Wheeler, who is the vice chair of Social Link, the charitable organisation that has help produce Holmer Green’s latest café, said: “Everything was fine until 12 years ago when funding was cut overnight.

The inspiration behind the cafe (Image: NQ)

“For some people, there is nothing for those past the age of 18 to go or to if they have needs.

“Things such as places to visit or socialising, being in relationships, going to the pub, stuff that we take for granted, there was nothing.

“Parents were really desperate and Wendy Dunn [Social Link’s chief executive officer] took it on to see if this could be turned into a charity, and it did.

“At first, it was very small and it was the parents who were the trustees and over the last 10 to 12 years, things have grown.

“We now have a centre that is open five days a week in High Wycombe along Green Street as there is a youth space there.”

There are also activity centres in Aylesbury.

Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, Mimi Harker, added: “The support over the last 12 years has grown because have wanted to help in so many ways.

Cake was on offer for those who attended (Image: NQ)

“They wanted to help those with social and educational needs and when you see it in action, it is fantastic to see.

“When you get to 18, all the support you need suddenly disappears as you’re an adult.

“They have lived at home all their lives being supported, they then turn 18, become an adult, and all that support just disappears – why should that happen?

“So today [September 17] has been wonderful because everyone here is making sure that they are trying to help as many people as possible.”