York Café "lifeline" for people who've struggled with addiction
Chocolate & Co offers employment, training and support to people struggling with addition and or have a criminal record
We're hearing how a York café is helping people who've struggled with addiction or have a criminal record.
Mariah Barry is the project lead: "Chocolate & Co is a charity that we set up and we offer paid employment, volunteering and mentoring support to people who might be struggling with addiction and or have a criminal record or experiencing homelessness."
The café is now celebrating a year of being open: "It's been a whirlwind of a year. But it's going really well. We feel very blessed with the amount of support that we've been having and the guys that are on part of the team it's just been a blessing and we are enjoying every minute."
Tim is one of the people who have worked at the café and tells us about his struggles with addiction: "It was mainly cocaine for nearly 22 years. Being a chef, it was the normal thing, and then it went from being a normal thing to a habit, to an addiction to losing everything. I come from having really nice stuff to being on the streets. And look, I've got nice stuff again but it's thanks to Chocolate & Co."
This woman, who didn't want to be named also says working at the café has made a huge positive impact on her life: "I suffered from addiction for like 12 years I've been in and out of prison since I was 18. I didn't work for years and years and it was never on the cards but these people gave me a chance and it’s probably the best thing than I've ever done."