A Leamington group that works to support vulnerable women in the community is partnering with a local independent bakery for their new skills training initiative.
Ladies will spend a day volunteering at Corner Cottage Bakery in Leamington as part of The Esther Project’s She Rises employability pathway scheme. Here the focus will be on learning a variety of techniques, including baking, front of house and hospitality before putting them into practice and selling the baked goods in Esther Women’s Hub the next day.
Corner Cottage Bakery owner Sarah Thornber, said: “We’re incredibly proud to support The Esther Project’s She Rises initiative by offering women the opportunity to spend time in our bakery, learn new skills, and gain hands-on experience in a welcoming and supportive environment. My role will be to guide and train the ladies in a range of baking skills, including creating cakes, mastering the art of croissant making and learning the craft of sourdough bread.
“We believe baking is about so much more than making bread and cakes. It’s a skill that requires patience, creativity, and confidence, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see someone develop new abilities and realise what they can achieve. I hope these sessions provide not only practical skills but also a sense of achievement, self-belief, and the confidence to take the next step, whatever that may look like.
“This project is particularly close to my heart. I understand how important it is to rebuild confidence and find a sense of identity and purpose after difficult experiences. Having someone believe in you and provide an opportunity to learn something new can be truly life-changing.”
The women’s hub, in Gloucester Street, offers a full programme of support, training, and employability opportunities – from counselling sessions in the dedicated therapy room, to creative workshops and trauma-informed courses, plus cooking classes in the kitchen.
The latest eight-week course marks the next stage of their training which has also incorporated shifts working as a barista at Farmers Fayre in Stoneleigh.
Nicola Reece, Managing Director of Farmers Fayre, said: “The Esther Project is our chosen charity of the year, and training days like this are exactly why being able to offer the ladies proper barista training isn’t just a nice gesture – it’s a genuine, transferable skill they can take into a café or workplace and build on. Seeing the engagement on the day and hearing their success stories afterwards is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at Farmers Fayre.”
The Esther Project is a gender-specific organisation supporting those who have experienced trauma and adversity. It does this through a range of services, including counselling, one-on-one support, creative activities, employability opportunities and drop-in sessions for women facing mental health challenges, escaping domestic abuse, recovering from addiction, transitioning from prison, or experiencing homelessness.
Lianne said of She Rises: “This course is just the beginning of their journey. We are already looking at developing future training modules with other incredible local businesses such as Cena Cacau and the course will also include additional modules such as interview techniques and CV writing, preparing the women for the world of work.
“Our ultimate goal is to expose these resilient women to a diverse range of real-world work environments, providing them with the broad horizons and robust foundations they need to succeed, so we are keen to talk to other businesses who would also like to help us create other career pathways.”
For further information about how The Esther Project can help, visit HERE.
