A café in York is providing delicious hot chocolate that not only tastes great, but helps to rebuild lives.
Located in the Groves area of the City, Chocolate & Co is one of York’s only non-profit cafes. While customers come for specialty hot chocolates, homemade food and a welcoming atmosphere, the organisation is focused on providing opportunities for people who have faced addiction, homelessness or involvement with the criminal justice system.
The project was founded by Linda and Mariah Barrie after they lost two close friends to addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harriet, supervisor at Chocolate & Co, tells the story of how it all started. “During the covid 19 pandemic Linda and Mariah lost two people to addiction, they wanted to help people who are struggling with addiction, homelessness or have been through the Criminal Justice System aiming to help to break down stigma around these issues.”
Their experience inspired them to create a space that could offer support, employment and community for people trying to rebuild their lives.
Listen to the interview with Harriet here.
Unlike a traditional café, Chocolate & Co operates as a social enterprise, offering training, volunteering opportunities and paid work to people why may struggle to find employment elsewhere.
The aim is to help individuals build confidence, learn workplaces skills and eventually move on to long-term employment.
Open referral forms are available online for self referral. People are then offered an interview which may lead to their volunteer programme. After 12 weeks, training is complete and they receive qualifications that can then be taken elsewhere, or, kept on as paid employment.
Lisa, Project Lead at Chocolate & Co, also explains that applying online isn’t essential, people can just come in for a chat and move on from there.
For many involved, the café is more then just a workplace, its a community.
Josh, café assistant at Chocolate & Co, said “this place means a lot to me, I was in a homeless shelter before, I didn’t know where to turn to or go, I walked in here and just asked for help and they have changed me.“
Josh also explains that making that first step is hard and scary, but in places like Chocolate & Co, everyone is willing to help.
Located just a short walk from York Minster, the café has built a reputation for being one of the most welcoming independent businesses in the area.
But for the team behind Chocolate & Co, the focus has always been about more than just food and drink.
Lisa also mentions that ” to anyone who is needing help, please come in, it is such a journey, I came straight from rehab and I have definitely grown whilst been here. Please don’t be scared, even if you have really low confidence or you don’t feel like you can work right now, come in and let’s see if we can help build on that together.”
As social enterprises become increasingly important in communities across the UK, Chocolate & Co shows how a small local café can make a big difference.
