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'Our autistic son's love of cooking inspired cafe'

Kate Baldockin Shrewsbury
News imageDonna Jones Harvey, 12, standing in the kitchen holding a mixing bowl and whisk and looking into the camera smiling.Donna Jones
Harvey was recently tipped £10 by a customer and said he was the "happiest boy in Shrewsbury"

A couple who opened a cafe say their son, who is autistic, was the inspiration for the move as he "absolutely loves cooking".

Donna Jones, 32 and Gregg Jones, 48, renovated the premises in Shrewsbury, to include a ramp for wheelchair users and a toilet before the doors opened in January.

Harvey's dream is that when he is old enough to leave school, he will come to work in the cafe, Donna said.

She added he has done a couple of shifts, "it's actually taught him to try to be social, so he's been going up to customers and delivering their food to them. He got a tip of ten pounds the other week and he was absolutely made up."

News imageDonna Jones Employee Kerry Rowe is standing alongside owner Donna Jones, they are both behind the counter with a drinks dispenser in the back and they are both smiling into the camera.Donna Jones
L-R, employee Kerry Rowe alongside director Donna Jones

As well as owning several other businesses, the couple have three other children, two girls aged six and 15, respectively and another son, eight-year-old Archie who is a wheelchair user.

Jones said she had noticed that as a parent of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), there was not enough support out there for children.

"So we're really trying to zone in on trying to make something available for SEN to get together to do bits and bobs, activities... anything really," she explained.

It is hoped in the future there will be regular meet ups for parents in her position with the cafe, which is on Whitchurch Road, having been made fully accessible.

Jones explained they are also in talks with a care company with plans for an adult with Down's Syndrome to work in the cafe once a week.

News imageDonna Jones Donna Jones and cafe employee Kerry Rowe standing outside the cafe on Whitchurch Road, they are standing next to eachother and both are smiling into the camera.Donna Jones
L-R Donna Jones and cafe employee Kerry Rowe outside the cafe on Whitchurch Road

The business is undeniably a family affair, with the couple's two daughters also playing a part.

The couple's six year old likes to prepare tables at the weekend and their 15 year old also comes into the cafe to help out.

Jones explained that the "world can be quite ignorant towards SEN" and seeing the cafe do the "world of good" for Harvey, she said she hopes her dreams for the cafe to do good in the community come true.