Upward Mobility (UPMO) is delighted to announce the opening of YoYo Café at Leith Victoria Swim Centre. The new café, a partnership between charity Upward Mobility and Edinburgh Leisure, will be officially opened by Ben Macpherson MSP at 11am tomorrow (Monday 28th August).
The new social enterprise café, run by chef Mark Elliot, provides delicious food and drink and a friendly and relaxing environment for people using the pool and gym facilities. In addition, the café will provide up to 10 training places at any one time for young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism. These placements are intended to increase the confidence, skills and employment prospects of trainees. The café will be open to the public Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Upward Mobility, the charity behind the café, supports around 148 young adults and adults with additional support needs living in Edinburgh and the Lothians to lead full and happy lives. Upward Mobility provides an extensive programme of workshops (119 workshops a week) in subjects a diverse as rock music, filmmaking, gardening and cooking. The majority of our activities take place within Edinburgh Palette on London Road, with satellite projects at Prestonpans Community Centre, North Berwick Community Centre and now Leith Victoria Swim Centre.
The first YoYo Café, run for and by Upward Mobility students, opened originally for just one day a week in October 2015 within Edinburgh Palette on London Road. The installation of the café kitchen was made possible thanks to a significant grant from the Clothworkers’ Foundation. Further funding from Young Start has enabled the café service and training opportunities to be extended to 4 days a week (with the aim of becoming 5 days a week by the end of 2017). YoYo Café at Leith Victoria Swim Centre, the café’s latest venture, provides an exciting opportunity for students who have gained catering experience at the Upward Mobility cafe at Edinburgh Palette to progress on to working in a public environment.
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