A NEW and improved community cafe has been launched to provide people who have learning disabilities with valuable work experience.

Brandon Trust, a charity which took on day services from Herefordshire Council in September 2014, has hubs around the county, including one at the Ryefield Centre in Ross-on-Wye.

The charity, which supports adult and children with learning disabilities and autism, runs a cafe at the centre in Grammar School Close.

Spotting an opportunity to be able to provide work experience for their service users bosses decided to extend the cafe into the reception area.

Locality manager for Brandon Trust Rob McAfee said: "We wanted to create a large area to entice more customers. The service users have been working really hard to design it."

They have ordered furniture and chosen the paint design, as well as making the cafe more family friendly.

They also named it School House Cafe to reflect its heritage as the former grammar school.

Around seven of the service users will work at the cafe for work experience, which will hopefully lead to opportunities in the community.

There is also a horticultural project at the centre, which will provide produce for the cafe.

Mr McAfee said: "Our motto and belief is that everyone with learning disabilities should live with freedom and with no limitations.

"We provide a platform for them to achieve their full potential."

The cafe is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm selling hot lunch meals, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, homemade cakes and hot and cold drinks.