By Brendan Rees
A new café has opened in Cranbourne East with the aim of providing a “second chance” for marginalised people to land a job.
The café, L’Arte Central, will train people with mental health challenges to gain or return to employment, education, volunteering or other meaningful activities.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon joined the team of L’Arte Central to officially open the social enterprise café at 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East on Wednesday 12 December.
Life Central managing director Drew Gormlie said the cafe would create pathways for people into mainstream community life and help realise their full potential.
“At L’Arte we don’t employ people to make coffee; we make coffee to employ people,” he said.
He said $125,000 had been raised to go towards building the facility with another $200,000 needed to complete renovations.
“We are still in the process of raising money but we have received $50,000 from the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation and over $50,000 from private donors in the past year.”
It’s expected the cafe will open its doors to the public in March next year.
“Life Central Services has invested considerable time, effort and finances over the last three years to get to the point where the café is no longer an idea,” Mr Gormlie said.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to have meaningful employment as it provides so many benefits: income, connection and training.”
Mr Gormlie hoped the café would be a “vehicle” for changing community attitudes towards those with mental health challenges.
“As your coffee and food is prepared and served to you, L’Arte Central will be teaching hospitality and life skills to increase their employment opportunities and community engagement.”
