21 Young Hearts Café in Martlesham Heath to open in summer

The 21 Young Hearts Cafe in Martlesham is making progress <i>(Image: The Hobbs Family)</i>
The 21 Young Hearts Cafe in Martlesham is making progress (Image: The Hobbs Family)
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A café that is "changing the narrative" on opportunities for people with disabilities is making good progress towards a summer opening.

21 Young Hearts Café, on The Square in Martlesham Heath, is owned by Sharon and Stuart Hobbs, whose son Kyle was born with Down syndrome.

Kyle Hobbs, who inspired the 21 Young Hearts CafeKyle Hobbs, who inspired the 21 Young Hearts Cafe (Image: The Hobbs family)

Sharon and Stuart Hobbs, who are running the cafeSharon and Stuart Hobbs, who are running the café (Image: The Hobbs family) The couple have had the ambition for the café for a long time, saying they want to "flip it" and train vulnerable adults in different roles while still catering to their support needs.

Mr Hobbs said: "When Kyle was born, it was a shock to us that he had Down Syndrome.

"Adjusting to life was hard for us, and we've spent his whole life fighting for him to get what he needs.

"We want to set up this café to flip it. We want to train vulnerable adults in employment and in a number of roles around the café while still catering to their support needs."

Mrs Hobbs said the café is waiting on signage and plastering, but said that "it's all coming together".

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Kyle is helping out with renovationsKyle is helping out with renovations (Image: The Hobbs family) She continued: "It's really exciting but also nerve-wracking, I just want it to work so much.

"It's definitely all coming together, and it has been all hands on.

"It's been lovely that people have reached out to support us, and the community has really got behind it.

"We're progressing and moving forward, but more hands are always needed.

"We're changing the narrative."

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Emma Pulford, who is also on the journey to the cafe's materialisation, with KyleEmma Pulford, who is also on the journey to the café's materialisation, with Kyle (Image: The Hobbs family) The community café has moved into the former clinic at unit 20 on The Square, in Martlesham, and hopes to open mid-summer.

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