Matthew first joined United Response as one of our learners through a supported internship at Café West. Based at the City of York Council West Offices, Café West is staffed predominantly by people we support, serving up a wide menu of meals, snacks and drinks. It provides hands-on experience and training for people with learning disabilities, helping them build workplace skills so they can move into paid employment. 

What started as a placement at Café West has since led Matthew to an exciting hospitality career, award wins, and growing confidence. 

Alongside being a talented barista, Matthew is also a Special Olympics gold medal-winning tennis player and Athlete Leadership Team member for Team GB. But hospitality had always been his dream career, and with support from Café West, it soon became reality. 

The perfect blend of skills and opportunity 

Matthew started his placement at Café West back in 2023. On his first day, he met Andy, who became his 1:1 employability tutor, helping him develop new skills and set goals for the future. 

“He’d been to college right before he started,” Andy explains. “His mum worked at the council, so she was aware of what United Response did there. The local education authority and the SEND team were able to make it all come together, so he got a placement with us.” 

Each week, Matthew and Andy would chat about what he could work on and improve, setting small targets and tracking his progress in an encouraging way. 

Andy recalls: “He had one shift a week during his time on the education placement. But during the other days at the café, I’d mentioned to our team leader and lead senior support worker Claire, that it’d be beneficial for Matthew to concentrate on things like looking toward customers for short periods of time to show engagement, and looking for extra jobs to do at quiet times.” 

Over time, Matthew began taking more initiative during shifts and taking pride in his work. 

“I really enjoyed the barista side of things, like making my coffees, cappuccinos and lattes,” Matthew says. “Using a coffee machine was something I’d never had experience with before, so that was my favourite bit.” 

The café environment also gave him freedom to experiment, express himself, and try new things without pressure – something that he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do at a large chain café. 

Andy remembers: “He always pushed himself. The café is really busy, so it’s normally a case of pouring milk in coffee and serving it at speed. But Matthew took it upon himself to start making latte art. There was no expectation for anybody to do that kind of thing, but Matthew just strives for excellence.” 

From Café West to The Grand, York 

Recognising Matthew’s potential and passion for hospitality, Andy suggested a placement at The Grand, York — one of the city’s leading five-star hotels. 

By mid-2024, Matthew had secured a three-week paid work placement. To help prepare him, Café West adapted his shifts so he could focus specifically on drinks-making and customer service skills. 

During his placement, Matthew worked mainly behind the bar, while also gaining experience in the breakfast and wine restaurant teams. Supported by colleagues Gemma and Val, as well as Andy, he quickly became a valued member of the team. 

Although the placement was originally intended for short-term experience and there was no guaranteed job at the end, Matthew was so popular with staff and guests that he was offered a permanent role. 

“After the three weeks was up, they gave me a job behind the bar,” Matthew says. “I was pretty excited when Andy told me they wanted to take me on as their new staff member!” 

Matthew is still working at The Grand today and is looking forward to celebrating his two-year anniversary in July. From teas and coffees to cocktail mixology, he’s become a natural behind the bar. 

He said: “I’ve really been enjoying it and I’m happy where I am at the moment. I also get on really well with my colleagues. They always ask me how tennis is going and they’re always interested in getting to know me more. They’re just really nice people.” 

Success on and off the court 

Looking back on where it all started, Matthew says working with United Response has had a really positive impact. 

“United Response has given me a lot of confidence,” he explains. “It was something quite new and different getting started there, but I settled in really well. Andy made me feel relaxed so I could look forward to starting a new chapter. It was so exciting and over time it gave me a lot more independence.” 

Alongside his work at The Grand, Matthew is also a member of the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Team, representing athletes across Great Briton and internationally as an ambassador.  

On top of that, he also recently ran the London Marathon on behalf of the Special Olympics, after training through a half marathon and 10k at the Olympic Park. 

His hard work and standout hospitality skills have even earned him major recognition. Matthew recently won the “Star Behind the Bar” award at the Hospitality Association York Awards (HAY) after being nominated by The Grand’s general manager.  
 
Adam Dyke, General Manager at The Grand Hotel said: “Matthew truly embodies our Grand values of Drive, Care and Excellence in all that he does – whether it’s on the tennis court in his spare time playing in the Special Olympics for Great Britain or behind the bar, creating a showstopping cocktail for our guests!’ 

Remarkably, the very next day, Matthew also won the Active Award at the BBC Radio York Make a Difference Awards taking home back-to-back awards in just 24 hours! 

With a natural knack for success and an impressive career already underway, it’s very clear that Matthew’s future is looking incredibly bright. 

Find out more about United Response’s supported employment pathways: Supported employment – United Response