Tell us a bit about yourself and the business.
“We are Danielle Magee and Jill Clarke – we are both volunteers at our Café in South Lake Leisure Centre. We volunteer on Wednesdays each week and we are taught customer service skills, barista skills, cash handling and food preparation.
“We really enjoying meeting the customers and working with the team in Café incredABLE.
“Our Café, at the state of the art South Lakes Leisure Centre, occupies a prominent position on the ground floor within the expansive, multi-access reception area and is an integral part of the new multi-million-pound complex which opened in November 2020.
“It operates daily with a full all-day menu including refreshments, snacks and hot and cold food.
“Café incredABLE is managed by Samantha McCartney and she is the Head of Catering for a group of social enterprise cafes that operate within the ABC council area called Café incredABLE.
“Café incredABLE @ South Lake holds a 5 star Food Hygiene rating awarded by the Food Standards Agency.
“Each time you choose to dine at Café incredABLE @ South Lake, you are making a difference to the lives of people with learning/intellectual difficulties and/or autism”.
How did the business start?
“In 1997, a group of parents, young people and professionals identified a need for young people with a learning/ intellectual disability and autism to have more opportunities to socialise with their peers within their local community. A committee was established and The Young Fit and Able (YFA) Group was born.
“Its key purpose was to provide a monthly social, recreational or educational opportunity for a group of up to 20 young adults with a learning disability in the Craigavon and Banbridge area, this was the start.
“With very few resources, no paid staff and operating solely with the support of volunteers the group began to grow. As part of that ongoing growth in 2017, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with a complete rebrand and a new name ‘incredABLE’ was born.
“In early 2018 we acquired our first café in the Jethro Centre in Lurgan and established it as a social enterprise, where any profit was reinvested back to incredABLE to create more opportunities for those that needed it, in 2020 we were successful in tendering for the café space in Craigavon’s South Lake Leisure Centre and in 2022 we were successful in tendering for the café space within Banbridge Leisure Centre.
“Our cafes employ over 50 members of staff now and just over one third of those employed by us have a diagnosis of a learning difficulty”.
Why is shopping local so important?
“Shopping local supports the local economy, local businesses are among the biggest employers in the area, supporting them helps sustain jobs and keeps income circulating within the community.
“Spending locally helps small and medium enterprises thrive, encouraging economic development. Café incredABLE is a cornerstone of the local economy in Craigavon, providing employment for locals, promoting social inclusion to locals, supporting local businesses who supply us, and enhancing community well-being.
“Our cafes support the integration of individuals with disabilities that live locally into the workforce, Café incredABLE fosters social inclusion and reduces isolation by offering a welcoming environment for both staff and customers from the local area, promoting diversity and community cohesion”.
What do you love most about your town?
“Craigavon has so much to offer, it has a standout facility in South Lakes Leisure Centre offering lake views, modern gym and pool facilities, nearby Oxford Island, Lough Neagh, Silverwood Golf & Ski and Craigavon Lakes provide beautiful outdoor spaces perfect for walking, watersports, cycling or any other outdoor pursuit you may like”.