Project notes: Dr B's Kitchen

Goals: To equip 16- to 25-year-olds who have learning disabilities with the skills they need to gain employment in the catering industry

Funding: Received 174,000 from the European Social Fund to cover 65 per cent of its running costs this year. The rest is met by Barnardo's, which runs the project.

Dr B's Kitchen is a city-centre restaurant staffed by young people with learning disabilities. The project, set up in 1992, was modelled on a similar scheme in Harrogate, north Yorkshire, that provided breakfasts and lunches.

The kitchen and 50-seater restaurant has up to 18 full-time trainees, who spend most of their 35-hour week working towards NVQs in food service, food preparation, and cooking and portering, as well as completing certificates in basic food hygiene. The centre also offers work experience placements.