A SUPERMARKET cafe in Chipping Sodbury was presented with a special award by students from a nearby secondary school.

Waitrose was selected by students from the Access Centre at Chipping Sodbury School as the cafe that gives the best experiences for people with hidden disabilities such as autism and dementia.

As a group, the students visited a number of different cafes to find the one that accommodated them.

The aim was for the students to establish which factors affect successful communication, both positively and negatively.

Various issues such as noise level, the provision of visual aids and staff listening skills.

The Access Centre at Sodbury school provides education and provision for students on the Autism Spectrum.

On Thursday, four students from the centre made the short trip to the store located near to the High Street and presented staff with a certificate.

Shirley Carmichael is a partner at Waitrose and is the Community Matters Champion for the Sodbury store.

She was there to receive the award along with other members of staff from the cafe.

“We are really pleased to have been chosen by the students of Chipping Sodbury School,” she said.

“We work really hard to make sure that we can look after our customers here at Waitrose and it is nice it has been acknowledged.

“Waitrose works really hard to make sure that our customers are comfortable and it is nice to be chosen.”

Isabelle Finn-Kelcey is the English teacher at the Access Centre and revealed her delight that the students had progressed and were welcomed back at Waitrose.

“We plan to roll out our Access Centre Award for Good Communication by visiting other local businesses and services,” she said.

“My hope is that as more places earn a certificate.

“It was great to see how Waitrose clearly wish to make their Chipping Sodbury café as accessible as possible to customers, it was fantastic for students to see how highly Waitrose valued their judgement.”