Yorkshire charity which uses barista training to help women facing barriers into work opens new cafe

The registered charity has opened a new cafe in a 1,400 sq ft ground floor unit in Mill 6 at Mabgate Mills, near St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

Co-founder Clare Sanderson said: “Here at Wren, we believe in second chances and see the potential in every one of the women we work with.

"We seek to empower and equip these women, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves.

“Our training provides a safe and supportive environment for women to make steps towards employment.

"We use baking and barista training as tools to develop opportunities for our women and to give them valuable transferable skills.

"We invest in their well-being, supporting them to be healthy in life and work.

"We are a fabulous community of women, journeying together, facing our fears and doing it anyway.”

Siobhan Riley, of CHP Management which manages Mabgate Mills, said: “Clare and the team at The Wren Bakery are doing an amazing job.

"I’m so pleased that they are taking over the café at Mabgate. Now the business will have a fabulous base for them to further develop their successful enterprise.”

Rick Fraser, director of Carter Towler who advised on the deal, added: “This is such great news for Mabgate Mills, not only does this fantastic business get the opportunity to offer more women the help they need but the other tenants and visitors to the mills get a great place to go for coffee and delicious cakes.

He added: "I hope the new location proves to be a really positive move for The Wren Bakery.”

The Wren Bakery was founded by Ms Sanderson and her friend Emma Flint.

Ms Flint had worked for the Joanna Project for eight years, and Ms Sanderson was a trained mental health social worker.

A weekend away provided the ideal opportunity to share their vision and what started as a small idea between friends soon grew into an idea. An idea that they realised could combine their skills and experience to make a difference to women’s lives.

A trip to London to visit Luminary Bakery, a social enterprise bakery, and chat with its founder, Alice, gave them the confidence to start writing a business plan and seek initial funding.

A year later they were welcoming their first trainees to The Wren Bakery.

Starting out renting kitchen space in a local community centre and renovating a 1960s Citroen H van to take to local parks and markets with their trainees, the charity has grown rapidly in three years.

The cafe at Mabgate Mills is now open Monday to Friday from 8.30am-3pm.

The business has taken its name from a tiny bird, the wren, one of the UK’s smallest garden birds but with the loudest of song.

Ms Sanderson and Ms Flint hope that their training programme enables women to find their voice and to use it confidently.

There are now over 30 businesses in the mills which provides a mix of business premises ranging from incubator units and studios to office suites.

There are currently a small number of offices available of varying sizes from 195 – 2,447 sq ft sq ft.