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Boys, 14, given taste of working life at cafe

Helen Burchell,Cambridgeshireand
John Devine
News imageJohn Devine/BBC Corey (left) and Deacon (right), are standing inside a small kitchen in a converted horse box. They are both holding paper coffee cups. Both have short, brown hair. Corey is wearing a black top and Deacon is wearing a two-tone brown top.John Devine/BBC
Corey (left) and Deacon (right), both 14, are running the mobile cafe

Teenagers have been working at a mobile catering unit, helping to boost their confidence and quell their boredom, a youth group said.

Bites of Fenland is a business selling coffees, tea and toasties from a converted horse box at events around the Cambridgeshire Fens.

The enterprise is organised by Youths of Fenland, a Community Interest Company supporting young people in the area.

Cory and Deacon, two 14-year-old pupils at Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech, described the experience as "good" and said it was "doing quite well".

Both boys attend the pupil referral unit at the secondary school and are working towards an ASDAN award (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) in enterprise.

Lydia Cowling, 22, a Youths of Fenland staff member, said: "Neither of the children are in full-time education - we take them out and give them the opportunity to learn some skills.

"They've got their food hygiene rating of five and have had training so they're out and about selling toasties and coffee."

However, taking part in the scheme is dependent on pupils adhering to a plan, which details they must attend school or they would lose their place in the project.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC Lydia Cowling is smiling at the camera. She is standing in front of a green and cream horse box. She has long, fair hair and is wearing a blue top.John Devine/BBC
Lydia Cowling said it was great to see the boys' confidence growing since taking part in the enterprise

"They want to be involved so I think they get a little bit anoyed with themselves if they don't stick with it," Cowling said.

She said it was not just about the pupils getting out of school during term time, as the children have attended fairs where they had to be picked up at 07:30 on a Sunday morning.

"I think that shows their dedication to it and it's nice to see their confidence has definitely grown," she added.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC A sandwich is being prepared on a work surface. Ham is being put on cheese on a slice of bread. There are toastie machines on the side.John Devine/BBC
Toasties are on the menu but the boys hope to offer more in the future

Deacon said they had been involved in the project for about 20 weeks and hoped they might be able to expand the catering options at the cafe to include pizzas.

"I think it's good, it's doing quite well, made quite a lot of money out of it," he said.

That money is then ploughed back into the business.

He said he had learned more about "business in general and food hygiene".

Corey added: "And how to talk to people - customer service - 100% it's going to help me in later life."

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