Ability Catering - Training Programme
Supported Employment Enquiry FormWhat we offer our team members
Our Ability Catering Training Programme supports people with a range of disabilities to learn and develop workplace skills. The team provide catering services across Wokingham, Windsor, and Maidenhead.
Our programme enables team members to develop their confidence and employability skills and transfer these into various settings.
While working alongside our employment coaches, our team members develop skills in the following areas:
- Food hygiene
- Health and Safety
- Hospitality Skills
- Food Service
- Food Preparation
- Front of House - serving skills
- Budgeting and sales
And most importantly, an employment reference!
In addition to the above, our specialist employment support team offer tailored and practical advice and support to help team members to look for further employment opportunities in line with their goals and aspirations.
If you think you may benefit from joining the programme, please contact employmentservice@optalis.org or call 0118 977 8600.
Why choose us for your event?
Catering services across Wokingham, Windsor, and Maidenhead
Our friendly and efficient team provide freshly prepared, delicious and well-presented food in our dedicated catering facilities for any event; offering work experience for people with a range of disabilities, supporting individuals to develop skills for employment.
What we offer:
- Regular or one-off catering packages
- Delivery in the local area
- Cold buffet menu’s
- Afternoon tea
- Specialist diets catered for
By working in partnership with us, you will be supporting the local community, gain access to an untapped workforce and build a diverse workforce.
Historically there has been a significant gap between the proportion of disabled people employed compared with non-disabled people.
Together we can make a difference!
If you would like to enquire about contracting our Ability Catering services, please contact Donna Morgans - donna.morgans@optalis.org on 0118 977 0800
Latest News!
Our team recently catered for a Meet the Team event serving a tasty selection of home made treats including our vegan flapjacks. Working alongside our Employment Coaches, developing catering and hospitality skills, Rachel helped with serving the food and drinks. Brandon helped bake our delicious sweet treats.
“Thank you for the amazing catering that was provided at our WBC event. The food was absolutely fantastic, especially the delicious, sweet treats. The wide range of sandwich options were truly impressive. It was wonderful to have such a variety that catered to everyone's tastes and dietary requirements. We consider ourselves lucky to have had the chance to collaborate with you and would consider using your services for our next event!” - Women's Health Network
Read about our biggest catering event to date, our team provided buffet food for 170 guests at a Christmas Party Ability Catering's biggest event yet!
Take a look at some feedback and photos from our recent catering event!
Watch the video online here https://www.linkedin.com/feed/...
"I wanted to just drop you a line and send you my heart felt thanks for a great job your colleagues and members did on Wednesday – it is such a shame you couldn’t be there as they did an amazing job and you must be very proud." - Community Rail Manager South Western Railway
"I had a fantastic day out and meeting new people. I left Callum to do the drinks, me and Sarah served the food. I had help the other staff set everything up at the station. I really enjoyed the whole day I will like to do this again." Feedback from Lucy - Ability Catering Team Member
Useful Links
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for the content on external websites and the inclusion of a link on the Optalis website is not an endorsement of that website, its content, or any product or service it may provide. You do not have to use the external resources we link to.
- CLASP - self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities in the Wokingham Borough
- Send Voices Wokingham - SEND Voices Wokingham is a Wokingham based, parent led charity. They are the independent voice of families, representing their experiences with the aim to improve lives.
- SENDIASS Wokingham - free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
- Autism Berkshire - Autism charity in Berkshire, delivering specialist services, training and social and leisure activities throughout the county, guided by a team of trustees with personal and professional experience of autism.
