Local Heroes: How The CRUMBS Project Is Changing Lives in Bournemouth

At a dedicated training centre in Bournemouth, something quietly remarkable is happening. Adults who may previously have faced barriers to work and independent living are learning practical skills, discovering new abilities and building confidence in an environment designed to help them flourish.

This is The CRUMBS Project, a local charity that has been changing lives since 1997.

Founded by the late Anne Gardner MBE, CRUMBS supports adults aged between 18 and 70 living with disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health conditions, stabilised addictions or acquired brain injuries. Its purpose is wonderfully straightforward: to help people gain the professional, personal and everyday skills they need to enjoy greater independence and move towards employment.

What makes CRUMBS particularly special is its hands-on approach. This is far more than classroom-based learning.

From its professional training centre at Hibberd Court in Ensbury Park, trainees develop practical experience across food production and service, housekeeping, administration and digital skills. They can learn to cook and bake, operate catering equipment, serve customers, use workplace technology and carry out tasks that support independent living.

The centre includes a training kitchen, bakery, dining room and computer room, creating an environment where skills can be practised in a setting that feels purposeful and relevant to everyday life and work.

Training is tailored to the individual, recognising that everyone arrives with different experiences, needs and ambitions. Alongside vocational skills, there is an equally important emphasis on communication, teamwork, self-confidence and wellbeing.

CRUMBS does not simply provide activities to fill the day. Its programmes are designed to help trainees become work-ready and create meaningful routes into hospitality and other forms of employment.

The charity’s training programmes are endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality and accredited by the Craft Guild of Chefs. In 2025, CRUMBS became the first UK charity to be officially accredited as a training organisation by the Craft Guild of Chefs, following an assessment of its curriculum, facilities and teaching environment.

That recognition gives trainees the opportunity to develop credible skills in an industry where practical ability, reliability and confidence can open valuable doors.

There is a lovely food and lifestyle dimension to CRUMBS’ work, particularly through its Showcase Meals.

Held at the Bournemouth training centre, these events allow Food Production and Service trainees to put their learning into practice. Working alongside volunteer chefs from hospitality organisations including THE PIG Group and BaxterStorey, trainees help plan, prepare, present and serve a themed menu to invited guests.

Behind every plate, something much bigger is happening. Trainees are practising communication, time management, teamwork, creativity and customer service in a genuine hospitality setting.

Around 30 guests attend each Showcase Meal and are invited to make a donation based on what they feel the experience was worth. The charity says the events help trainees build confidence, inclusion and a stronger sense of belonging.

For 2026, Showcase Meals are scheduled for March, April, July and November.

CRUMBS also has strong links with the local hospitality industry.

Professional chefs and hospitality teams volunteer their time, share their knowledge and help trainees understand the expectations of a working environment. These partnerships can also encourage employers to think more inclusively about recruitment and recognise the contribution people with disabilities and other barriers to work can make.

In 2025, a CRUMBS team prepared and served canapés at an Institute of Hospitality event at Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel, giving some participants the chance to demonstrate their skills and professionalism in front of people working within the industry.

Photos: Facebook

Employment is an important goal, but CRUMBS’ impact goes much further. By learning everyday skills such as cooking, using technology, communicating confidently and working as part of a team, trainees can build greater independence in all areas of life.

The charity describes its approach as “training for independence”, combining preparation for employment with the confidence and practical skills needed at home and in the wider community.

After almost three decades, The CRUMBS Project continues to make a meaningful difference, helping adults build greater choice, purpose and independence.

The CRUMBS Project Training Centre is at Hibberd Court, 20A Hibberd Way, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH10 4EP. Find out more at www.crumbs.org.uk.

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