Crafted by Props

Our most ambitious venture to date, Crafted by Props is our high street Café, shop, exhibition and community meeting space.

We finally have somewhere to showcase the talent of our Trainees through handmade artisan products, artwork, food and drink, while creating opportunities for workplace training and routes to employment that our Trainees otherwise have so many barriers to.

Over the last year we have completely transformed a vacant retail space on Fishponds Road, creating a welcoming and inclusive space that serves and celebrates the diverse needs and perspectives of EVERYONE in the community, especially those too often excluded from accessing public spaces. 

As the face of our high streets is changing, our vision for Crafted by Props is to provide a model for how high street spaces can evolve to become accessible, inclusive social and creative hubs within the local community.

During the day, Trainees from Props can either work in the cafe – serving up hearty, homecooked treats, in the enterprise kitchen – developing recipes, or in the custom built workshop – developing skills in sewing, print and graphic design to create handmade products. 

As evening falls, the Tapestry by Props team will transform the space into a cosy, welcoming bar that serves craft beer brewed by Props Trainees.

From cooking, customer service and barista skills to printing, clothes creation, admin and more, this enterprise creates a wide range of work opportunities and routes to employment to suit the different needs and interests of our Trainees. 

Our Hospitality Training Support Services offer training and support in customer service, using till systems, food hygiene and safety, recipe development and bespoke barista training – equipping our Trainees with all the skills they need to work in a high street environment.  

For Props, this enterprise doesn’t just provide meaningful routes to employment for Trainees, it serves to champion and celebrate the unique value and perspectives that adults who have learning disabilities offer to the world and workplaces.