Daily bread – St Anne’s Church saves sandwich bar

Published: 22 July, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT

WANNABE workers hungry to find a job have been given a chance to cut their teeth at a new Highgate sandwich bar. 

Fresh Foods Gym and Juice Bar in Chester Road is part of the Phiz ’n’ Biz Project. Despite being praised as a “much-needed enterprise”, plans to launch the community sandwich bar came under serious threat when the Futures Job Fund was scrapped. 

That was until nearby St Anne’s Church in Highgate West Hill donated £5,000 to help launch the project. The money went towards the cost of fridges, furniture and start-up stock. 

Youth development coordinator at the church, Robert Aitken, said: “As soon as we heard about the café we thought it sounded like a really good enterprise. It fits our ethos of engaging the community by doing something that trains young people with new skills.”

 Phiz ’n’ Biz service manager Charles Browne said: “Money from the Futures Job Fund was going to help us find our feet, build a reputation for ourselves and cover wages for the first six months. Our plans were on the verge of being scrapped too.

“We’re really grateful for the support St Anne’s has shown. The young people have worked hard on the initial idea, but without their help it wouldn’t have been possible. 

“We’re not here to make money, we’re here to give young people confidence in the workplace. We really need support from the community to keep us here.”