Cafe providing opportunities for people with learning disabilities opens

A new cafe working to provide opportunities to people with learning disabilities opened this week.

The Camouflage Café opened at the refurbished Moorings Sociable Club in Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, following a launch event last Friday.

The launch welcomed residents and Greenwich Mayor, Councillor Leo Fletcher.

There was a live performance by a jazz duo before a children’s entertainer hit the stage and attendees sampled some of the cafe’s staple dishes.  

Founded by husband and wife Kemi and Chris Madumere, the Camouflage Café is an offshoot of the couple’s Brighter Futures charity, which supports young people and adults with learning disabilities. 

Emma Moate, 27, was introduced to Brighter Futures through her brother, who has autism and cerebral palsy.

She said: “I thought it was a brilliant opportunity for young people with learning disabilities to actually get to go to work and learn new skills, because there’s not a lot of places and a lot of companies out there that understand the rights of people with learning disabilities.

“Even though we’re all equal, there should be more opportunities for them.” 

The initiative is supported by Peabody, the company leading a long-term regeneration of the town, as well as Greenwich council. 

The menu includes foods like croissants, sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes, and may expand based on customer demand.   

Café co-founder Kemi Madumere said: “It’s nice to bring something new and something fresh to the community that everybody can access, not just the adults we look after. 

“We’re able to encourage some of our young people to get some life skills in a real working commercial place, and we needed a collaboration like this because otherwise without Peabody’s help with the venue and the local authority chipping in to help, there’s no way I could have pulled something like this off.” 

Some of the adults that the charity works with will staff the café, gaining important customer service and operational skills that they can use to help secure future employment. 

They will also work alongside team members who can offer them support on the job.  

Speaking at the launch event, mayor Leo Fletcher said: “It’s an absolute honour to welcome the café to the borough.

“For everyone that’s been helping and volunteering, everyone in the community, and the fantastic work you’re doing, it’s amazing.

“It’s always a struggle to start a new business, but just seeing the amount of people here today I think it’s going to be a huge success.” 

The Camouflage Café is open at The Moorings Sociable Club, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am  to 4.30pm.  

Find out more about the café here.  

Pictured top: From left, Adelynn Chan, Cllr Leo Fletcher, Remi Oladunni, Abi Akinfaye, Emma Moate and co-founders Chris and Kemi Madumere (Picture: Richard Heald)