Ronnie is a kind, creative and talented person. When he joined our Supported Employment Programme in 2022, he was eager to learn. Through training in our classroom, and work experience in the community, he built his confidence and skills.

One of Ronnie’s early challenges was using the coffee machine at Café Domenica, particularly steaming milk and handling hot water. But with time, patience, and support from our team, he was able to make perfect coffees with ease.

Team Domenica helped me really well. I enjoyed learning new skills, meeting new people and understanding what it’s like to be at a place of work.

Ronnie, Team Domenica candidate

As Ronnie progressed onto our Supported Internship Programme, his strong work ethic and determination became clear. However, an employment journey isn’t always linear and Ronnie’s first placement was a challenging café role that required multitasking across a wide range of duties. Ronnie instead favoured completing every task thoroughly, and through to its end, which wasn’t always feasible in such a varied environment. Recognising this, our employment team worked to find a placement that was more aligned with Ronnie’s strengths.

Bill’s had already seen the benefits of employing people with learning disabilities at their Brighton restaurant, and they were keen to expand their partnership with Team Domenica. After meeting Ronnie, they set up a supported internship in Bills, Lewes, starting behind the bar making drinks.

At Bill’s, there was plenty to learn. Ronnie adapted quickly, mastering drink garnishes and how to keep up with orders during busy shifts. To help him stay focused under pressure, he and his Job Coach, Sue, practiced working at speed during quieter times, preparing him for the rush. Then, in July 2024, Ronnie was offered a paid position within the Bill’s, Lewes team. Now a drinks whizz, he works some of the restaurant’s busiest shifts, handling the demands with confidence and skill. His manager says:

Ronnie has been a true asset to Bill’s Lewes. His willingness to work comes through every single shift without fail. Each week, we see more and more from Ronnie.

Team Domenica played a large part in ensuring Ronnie’s transition to paid work was extremely smooth, and we still have them close by if we ever need support. We’re excited to see what the future holds for Ronnie!

Charlotte, Ronnie’s Manager at Bills, Lewes