Jackson’s Cafe in High Street, Romford with a ‘quirky little twist’

Jackson’s Cafe, in High Street,  opened in 1994 and celebrated its 30th birthday last August.

The cafe is one of four owned by Unit Works, a social enterprise that provides training for adults with learning disabilities.

Cafe manager Tracey Brennan spoke to the Recorder about what makes Jackson’s so special.

Jackson’s Cafe has been open since 1994 (Image: Jackson’s Cafe) She said: “We are a café that is open to the public but we’ve got a little quirky twist.

“We take adults with learning disabilities who have interests in cooking or catering or simply want to be more independent and go on to live on their own, and we offer a training programme where they work in Jackson’s one day a week to give them those skills.

“We do team building, baking, cooking, money skills and just allowing people to be part of a team.”

Tracey said that people on average undergo training for two years where they earn a national vocational qualification (NVQ) before entering a supportive employment programme which provides help in finding employment.

Tracey and the Jackson’s team celebrated the cafe’s 30th birthday last year (Image: Jackson’s Cafe) Tracey visited Jackson’s on its very first day in 1994 as a customer and began working there five years later.

“I didn’t even know it was a special place back then,” she said.

“I used to come in two or three times a week for lunch with my family and one day a member of staff told me I was really good with the trainees and encouraged me to do some work there, and the rest as they say, is history.

“I’ve seen some really wonderful people come through our training programmes.

Hayley Skeggs and Lucy Austin are both trainees at Jackson’s Cafe (Image: Jackson’s Cafe) “Not only is our programme great but the food we serve is really good too.”

Tracey explained that Jackson’s offers a “traditional” menu of soup starters, meat and vegetable main courses, omelettes, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and more.

“The only thing we don’t do is deep-fry so our menus are a bit more healthy – it keeps us clean and tidy as well – people come in and tell us how clean and tidy our café is.”

Victoria Wake and William Arthur are also trainees at Jackson’s Cafe (Image: Jackson’s Cafe) Despite having been “up against things in the past” such as a fire in 2016 and having the “safe ripped from the wall” in 2018, Tracey described Jackson’s as a “special” place, enhanced by the embrace of the Romford community.

“This is a very special place with a huge community spirit,” she said.

“The people at Jackson’s and the community around it are the best thing about working here – every day is special and every day is different.

“I go home with a smile on my face every day – even when you’re feeling run down or fed up, something at Jackson’s will make you smile.

“I’d love for Jackson’s to be around in another 30 years’ time – it really deserves to be.”