A NEW Inverclyde project aimed at giving young people with additional support needs a safe space to grow and learn is beginning to blossom.

The new eatery, called Branches Cafe, has been established inside Parklea Branching Out’s new £1.7m community hub building, which is set to launch officially later this year.

As part of Parklea Branching Out’s new training programme, young people with additional support needs will be able to work as trainees at the cafe and get valuable experience in a real-world working environment.

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With work on the stunning building which houses the cafe now complete, the horticultural charity has carried out a ‘soft launch’ of the venue, giving staff, volunteers and trainees a chance to get used to the facility.

Work on the building that will be home to the cafe is now complete. (Image: George Munro)

Sharon Gemmell, manager at Parklea, told the Tele it was an exciting time for the charity and that the cafe was just one small part of the many improvements the organisation was making to its base in Port Glasgow.

She added: “There’s been quite significant developments around the site. The building here is a fantastic space.

“It’s not just a cafe, it’s a community space.

“We have our greenhouses around the site as well, and a Changing Places toilet, which will improve accessibility.

“We’re also getting new cycling storage that will support our all-ability cycling.

"The cafe is part of bigger and new opportunities as part of the next chapter in the Parklea journey and as we develop our enterprise activity further.

The Parklea team's members are getting used to their new surroundings.a (Image: George Munro)

“At the core of that is providing new opportunities for young people and adults with additional support needs.

“This part of the new training programme is about giving people the opportunity to come into a real-life working environment and to develop both their employability skills but also life skills as well.

“We’re very grateful to our funders, those who have helped with this project and those who have helped us at other points during our journey.”

While the official launch of the community hub is planned for December, Branches Cafe is now up and running.

Those who wish to pay a visit should contact Parklea on 01475 904865 for more information about opening hours.