The Storybook Café took out the Excellence Award in the Community Development and Services category at the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards ceremony in Sydney.
The Storybook Café, which operates from the Queanbeyan Library, was established by the Axis Youth Centre to give people the chance to gain real industry experience and training. The volunteer program helps participants gain meaningful employment in the hospitality industry.
“This initiative has been very successful and we’ve had about 40 young people come through the program to become trained baristas. Most of these have now moved into employment in the industry or similar paid work,” Program Coordinator, Community Terry Campese said.
“We are proud to win this award and it is a great recognition of the benefits the café has had to people’s lives. Not only is it a place for people to get experience but a place to feel safe and socialise. We are now shortlisted for the national awards, so we will see how we go!”
The Storybook Café has been supported by Canberra Milk and Seven Miles Coffee Roasters.
