Springhallow School in West Ealing is a specialist school for students diagnosed with autism.
Last December, with the support of their teachers, a group of Springhallow students attended the Small Grants Pitch Day at City Hall. They created a budget and presented their plans in front of a panel of judges, speaking confidently about their idea to set up a café. They were passionate about how the café could change society’s perception of people with autism.
Following their moving presentation, the students were awarded a £1,000 grant to build their café.
With help from teachers and volunteers from the community, students built the café and took votes on important decisions like its name and logo.
The grant helped the students make improvements to the café and contributed to the purchase of a new coffee machine.
The onsite café provides students with extended work experience each year. Students learn important skills needed to increase employability - one of the main aims of the school.
Students at Springhallow are knowledgeable about the work they are doing in advocating for autism awareness and encouraging a more open society.
Springhallow School are well on the way in their Team London Young Ambassadors journey. They have started as they mean to go on - passionately and full of determination to make their school and local community a more open and compassionate place.
The café reps recently returned to City Hall for the Team London Young Ambassador Market Place event where they got to share their successes with members of the public. They took home the judge’s award for the best project, selected by the Deputy Mayor of Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement.
The Team London Young Ambassadors programme is match funded by the #iwill Fund and delivered by We Charity.
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