From today, visitors to Cwmbran Community Hub and Library will be able to buy drinks to enjoy with their books and attend their clubs.
The Coffi Cart is run in partnership with mental health charity Growing Space, who work with people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
The initiative will act as a volunteer training programme, supporting people of working age with work-limiting health conditions and disabilities to develop skills and experience to find suitable employment.
Individuals will get to gain practical experience in areas including barista skills, customer service, food hygiene, health and safety and retail.
Bill Upham, CEO at Growing Space, said “This exciting and innovative initiative will improve the well-being of all who engage with it and provide community-based solutions that will ease the demand on statutory services”
Coffi Cart will operate during normal library opening times, and has a selection of tea, coffee and cold drinks.
Cllr Peter Jones, Torfaen Council’s Executive Member for Corporate Governance and Performance, said:
“The Coffi Cart responds directly to what library users told us they wanted, while also creating opportunities for people to develop valuable skills, experience and confidence.
“It’s a great example of the approach we are taking our Torfaen Community Hub and Libraries, bringing opportunities and support together in a welcoming community setting.”
The project has been made possible through £51,000 of Welsh Government Economic Inactivity Trailblazer funding.
Cwmbran Library already hosts around 34 regular groups, alongside advice and information services, as part of the Council’s approach to bringing more services and activities together under one roof.
The Coffi Cart initiative is based on a similar model at St Cadoc’s Hospital in Newport, with Able also supporting referral routes into the programme.
For more information about opening times and what’s on at the library, visit the Torfaen Council or Connect Torfaen (opens in new tab)websites.