Who is Bread & Beyond? Expand Bread & Beyond is a commercial artisan bakery with a difference. We develop and bake the finest hand-crafted goods, using the highest quality ingredients, free from additives and preservatives. And at the same time, provide vocational training and employment opportunities for young people with autism.
How did the idea come about? Expand Staff at Prior's Court were inspired by a trip to America, where they saw some exceptional projects developing real work opportunities for people with autism. Keen to replicate these successful projects back home, we researched various enterprises which fitted our young people’s skill profiles. A bakery emerged as the best viable solution, and so the idea for a self-sustaining bakery at Prior’s Court was born. A bakery is an ideal place for young people with complex autism to work. The routine processes of measuring and working the ingredients suit the learning styles and needs of people with autism.
Why is there a need for something like this? Expand Only 32% of autistic adults in the UK are in any kind of paid employment, despite over 80% stating a clear wish to work. Just 16% are in full-time employment, and for people with complex autism, the current expectation is that they will never enter the world of work. This significantly reduces their independence, increasing the risk of social exclusion and mental and physical ill-health. We want to change the outlook for young people with autism, building on the existing successful work placement programme at Prior’s Court, and give real opportunities for paid work in a commercial environment.
How many sessions are happening each week? Expand From the 2022/23 academic year, each week, there will be more than 30 sessions running in the bakery with up to 20 young people with complex autism. This contrasts favourably since the opening of the bakery in 2018 - in the first year after opening, 10 young people with autism undertook work experience within the bakery. In the future, we are aiming for as many young people as possible at Prior’s Court to have accessed taster sessions and training, in addition to some having progressed to work experience and work placement roles within external organisations.
What does success look like? Expand No two people with autism are the same, and the young people at Prior’s Court all have varying capabilities, strengths and needs. This means that for one individual, success might be accessing regular taster sessions, and enjoying the baking process. For another, they might be better suited to a front of house role bagging and selling products. Or, for one young person – they could progress through our training programme and become very competent in one area, so that they eventually assist with baking products for a couple of hours each week at Bread & Beyond, or even with another bakery. All young people at Prior’s Court have complex autism, and as such would always needs to be supported by an Autism Practitioner and supervised by our bakery team. But, our bakery is designed to be inclusive, enabling them to follow their individual strengths and interests, and achieve things which are extraordinary for them.
What products are you selling? Expand Our rule for what we offer in our range is simple; only products that use high quality ingredients, can be hand-crafted and taste amazing make it through. Our current range is detailed elsewhere on website.
Have they been made by people with autism? Expand Young people with autism take part in regular baking sessions with our bakery team. All young people are taking part in a comprehensive training programme which supports them to learn all the skills required to work in the bakery from wearing appropriate clothing and protective wear, to food hygiene and safe use of equipment. You can read about young people's progress here.
What are you doing to ensure hygiene standards are being maintained? Expand Just as our products are of the highest standard, our hygiene practices are no different. That’s why we have been awarded the maximum five stars from the Food Standards Agency. The rating is based upon; handling of food, how food is stored, how food is prepared, cleanliness of facilities and how food safety is managed. Our team is responsible for ensuring industry hygiene standards and processes are adhered to. Everyone plays their part including the young people and the Autism Practitioners supporting them. Before coming into the bakery, young people will have undergone basic food hygiene training in food technology sessions.
What does a bakery session with the young people look like? Expand Each session lasts for about 20-40 minutes. Upon arriving at the bakery, young people begin preparation by hanging up their jackets, changing into their whites, putting on hairnets and shoe covers, before washing their hands. Then they help with simple tasks like weighing ingredients, moulding and kneading dough etc. Each young person will have a visual schedule to follow, which plans out their tasks step-by-step. They will be accompanied by a member of the bakery team who will support them to follow their schedule and quality assure the products being made in the session. Young people are also involved in cleaning down, taking uniforms to the laundry and hanging them in size order in the changing room. They return after baking has finished to collect their products, which they take back to their home to share with their peers.
What next? Expand We hope that our innovative and ground-breaking project will enable more young people with complex autism to access the workplace in the bakery industry. Get in touch if you are interested in supporting us to deliver this ambition.