Wesley Vocational Centre
Our History
About 5 years ago, ‘Wesley Hall Lunch Club’ came into being. It started by offering healthy lunches for the elderly in our community and was run as a Church Project. At the same time we were approached by Barnardo’s to place young people from Rotherham on “Work Placements”, learning catering and hospitality skills.
Barnardo’s believes in children regardless of their circumstances, gender, race, disability or behaviour. They do this because they believe that every child deserves the best start in life and the chance to fulfil their potential. Dr Thomas John Barnardo, saw poverty on his door -step in London and set up the first “Barnardo’s” project in 1867.
In the beginning of 2008, Church members at Wesley Hall started conversations with staff at Barnardo’s, about creating a formal partnership and becoming a joint Project. The Wesley Vocational Centre came into being at the end of 2008 with the employment of 2 full-time Chef’s, nearly 140 years after Dr Barnardo set up his first project in London.
Our Project
Every Barnardo's project is different but each believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through.
Wesley Vocational Centre Staff work alongside a dedicated group of volunteers delivering Catering and Hospitality to young people who come from across Sheffield and Rotherham. Our young students come from many schools including Special Schools and Exclusion Units. Some of our young students will have learning and behavioural difficulties, but all are valued and are part of our wider team.
We work alongside Sheffield City Council and provide a number of formal programmes which lead to qualifications for the students. As well as this, we work which mainstream schools across the City offering Vocational Skills Programmes.
Our Activities
The Wesley Vocational Centre runs the Lite Bite Café most days at Wesley Hall serving tea, coffee and snacks. Main meals are served between 12:00noon and 2:00pm from just £1.50. We are also responsible for two Lunch Clubs, one at Wesley Hall and one at St. Timothy’s (a church just down the road). These provide a main course, sweet and tea or coffee for £3.50. The full schedule of catering activities is below:
| Activity | Time | Location | |
| Monday | Lite Bite Café | 10:00am to 3:00pm | Wesley Hall |
| Tuesday | Lite Bite Café | 10:00am to 3:00pm | Wesley Hall |
| Wednesday | Lunch Club | 12:15pm | St Timothy's Church, Slinn Street, S10 1UZ |
| Lite Bite Café | After Toddler Group | Wesley Hall | |
| Thursday | Lunch Club | 12:15pm | Wesley Hall |
| Friday | Lite Bite Café | 10:00am to 3:00pm | Wesley Hall |
Our Staff
If you are interested in volunteering, please drop in at any time for a coffee and a chat with one of our staff. We are based in the Minister’s Office which is to the right of the main entrance area at Wesley Hall. You can also contact us by sending an email to wvc@barnardos.org.uk or calling (0114) 266 1391.
| Sarah Freeman | Children’s Service Manager |
| Alex Shearer | Senior Vocational Instructor |
| Richard Williams | Assistant Vocational Instructor |
| Jyothi Yernini | Service Administrator |
If you would like to find out more about Barnardo’s, please visit the the Barnardo's website.