From the cafe's point of view we were keen to start to develop a number of community projects with an international dimension given that the opportunity for international mobility existed at the time through Erasmus. Hove Park Community Cafe is striving to become a hub that offers support for all the community. It currently runs a number of programmes to support the community from numerous work placements each year to providing healthy eating programmes in primary and junior schools across Brighton and Hove. It works with a number of sports clubs including Tennis, Football, Running and Fitness to promote well being. It also works with local Friend's Groups to organise a large art festival working with local schools and interest groups. The organisation has ambitions to become a larger community support centre that can offer improved pathways to employment for all the many people that it works with.
The main reason for applying for this grant was to improve the prospects of learners undertaking work experience at the cafe. Most young people that undertake a placement, are not clear of future ambitions and have low aspirations. in discussions many said that they were working at the cafe 'for something to do' because they were required to undertake a work placement from college. The objective of the project was to raise aspiration and offer alternatives to catering by introducing students to other elements of work including community development and participation. T