A CAFÉ which provides training and jobs for abuse survivors has had an ‘amazing’ and ‘chock-a-block’ opening weekend, its founder has said.
Led by Cheyenne O’Connor, The Butterfly Café opened its doors to Islanders on Saturday morning to coincide with the Fête de St Helier, with a full team of staff and extra volunteers.
The non-profit venture – which has received £155,000 from the government – provides job opportunities and workplace training to Islanders who have experienced abuse, as well as access to ongoing, survivor-led services, such as peer-support group meetings, training, a helpline, a job shop and advocacy assistance.
Ms O’Connor said: ‘It was non-stop all of Saturday, with people waiting outside even before we opened. It was amazing and much busier than I expected.’
She added: ‘Sunday was still busy, although not quite as busy as Saturday as the weather didn’t do us any favours.’
A donations pot at the café, Ms O’Connor said, received over £100 in the two days.
‘There were a couple of hiccups at the start with figuring out the till and various pieces of equipment, but the customers were really good with our staff and very patient,’ she said.
Ms O’Connor added that the café was unlikely to be ‘chock-a-block every second of every day like it was this weekend with the fête’, but she said she had high hopes for the tourist season.
‘We are hoping the summer will be really good, because we have an alcohol licence as well, so people can sit in the outside area which is in the sun from the second it comes up to the second it goes down.’
The café and restaurant, which operates on the site previously occupied by St Malo Bistro in the Parade, will soon offer a full breakfast and lunch service.
Ms O’Connor said: ‘We are finalising the menu and are due to have our official grand opening soon.’
