BARISTAS and cooks have been fine-tuning their skills in a bid to help add a little heart and soul to housing developments in Bonshaw.
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Now they are one step closer to making this a reality.
Pinarc Disability Support has won a $10,000 State Trustees grant to support installing a commercial-grade kitchen in its new Bonshaw site.
The not-for-profit organisation is working towards opening a cafe to further build the skills of their young people with disabilities and open up more employment opportunities.
The cafe is next to a proposed supermarket, child care centre, primary school and recreation spaces in an area tipped to bring more than 2,200 people to housing developments in the next five years.
Pinarc chief executive officer Marianne Hubbard hoped it would add to an emerging community feel in the area.
“It’s about bringing people in and promoting inclusivity in a natural environment,” Ms Hubbard said.
“The barista and cooking training focuses on skill development over a longer term with a view of transitioning into studying a certificate. It’s giving people enough time and individual support to do that.”
The Pinarc barista and cooking program has been based part-time at Ballarat Community Health’s Lucas hub the past two years.
Participants cook up six to eight litres of soup each week for the Soup Bus, feeding Ballarat’s homeless and needy.
This week, chips and dips were also on the menu for Pinarc’s Christmas Party.
Ms Hubbard said the long-term plan was to open a commercial training kitchen at Pinarc’s newly acquired Golden Point site, the former Golden Point Primary School, with potential to offer catering for functions in the old school building.
The Bonshaw cafe will be a shop front for those preparing to take the next step in their training and towards employment opportunities.
Ms Hubbard said Pinarc was also looking to grow new community partnerships, similarly to the support it already had with Ballarat Community Health.
Once moved into the Bonshaw kitchen, Pinarc has plans to work with secondary school students and food groups. A horticulture group will partner with a nearby nursery to learn how to grow fresh produce on site.
The grant to upgrade the Bonshaw kitchen comes under the State Trustees Australia Foundation Grassroots Grant program.
Grassroots grants aim to support individuals disadvantaged by ageing, disability and mental health in projects promoting social inclusion, participation, emotional well-being, health, self-care, and carer support.
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