It’s National Inclusion Week (15–21 September), a week dedicated to celebrating and promoting inclusion across communities. To mark this, we spoke to a local organisation that’s challenging stereotypes and helping young people with learning disabilities into employment.
Mahaba Café, in Singapore Road, West Ealing, is a community-led social enterprise that trains and supports young people with learning disabilities to gain work experience and move into paid employment.
Since opening in spring, it has supported 32 learners through its personalised training programme – with 10 graduating this summer and one already securing a job.
The café also partners with local businesses to offer placements and is developing a raft of volunteering opportunities to help increase visibility for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Pull up a chair and have a natter
And now, Mahaba is a registered venue for the Chatty Café Scheme, a UK-wide initiative tackling loneliness through conversation. Every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm, the café hosts a ’Chatter & Natter’ table – a friendly space where anyone can drop in for a chat.
“As a community café, it’s really important to us to involve the community in our work,” said Zoe Diver, who runs Mahaba Café.
She’s currently looking for volunteers to help run the table.
Zoe said: “Volunteering is a brilliant way to connect and support our young people – and we’d love to hear from anyone interested in getting involved. I absolutely love a natter and am very much looking forward to hosting our Chatty Café table.”
The café is also running a community book donation scheme, inspired by freeordonate.com. Visitors can read whilst enjoying something to eat or drink, take a book home with them, or even make a donation to help fund the Mahaba training programme.
The current collection includes adult fiction and children’s books. Donations of books are welcome, though space is limited, so the team asks people to check in first.
Council-backed support
While Mahaba Café is a community-led programme, Ealing Council is also working to improve employment outcomes for young people with SEND.
The council’s Supported Internship Programme helps young people transition from education into work, with placements both in and outside the borough. Numbers are growing year on year, from 26 in 2021 to 37 in 2024, and success stories include Harvey, who now works for the council, and others who have found roles in the NHS and local businesses.
The council has also partnered with the West London Alliance on Connect to Work, a 5-year programme helping people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or other barriers into jobs – or helping them stay in work.
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “Mahaba Café is a brilliant example of what happens when we challenge stereotypes and create space for people to thrive. I’ve visited the café and seen firsthand the difference it’s making, not just to the young people it supports, but to the wider community. We’re proud to back inclusive employment and will continue working to make Ealing a place where everyone can belong.”
