16/10/2025
🌈 What Do We Actually Do at The Glowsticks Project?
We get asked this a lot — because The Glowsticks Project isn’t your average café.
We’re a neurodivergent-run charity café, bakery (... yes, we said Bakery! 👀 watch this space...) and training hub right in the heart of Middlesbrough — powered by lived experience, kindness, and caffeine. ☕✨
💛 Staffed by Support, Not Status
Our café is run by support workers, not catering staff. Every coffee, cake and conversation is a chance to build confidence, community and connection.
Our staff are trained to coach, scaffold and encourage rather than just supervise — creating real-world workplaces where autistic and ADHD people can truly thrive.
(With one brilliant exception — our Head Chef, Phill, who volunteers over 50 hours every week because he believes so deeply in what we do. Absolute legend. 👨🍳)
💪 Led by Heart, Not Profit
We have three operational trustees — Rebecca, Tracey and Pete — each giving over 50 hours a week to keep Glowsticks glowing. Alongside them are five non-operational trustees who attend meetings, offer guidance, and are always at the other end of the phone when we need advice.
You might even see one of them — Chris — behind the counter on Fridays (and sometimes Tuesdays)! Chris is autistic himself and has fast taken to the environment, supporting our staff and chatting with customers. We’re so proud of him. 💚
Every penny made at Glowsticks goes right back into the charity — buying stock, running events, and paying meaningful, real-world wages to our neurodivergent young people. Nobody at management or trustee level takes a wage.
🧁 What Happens in the Café?
This is where inclusion lives and breathes. We:
Support young people from as young as 14 through school placements, volunteering and paid roles. (Our phenomenal Erin started at 14 — she impressed us so much we even got a special employment permit so she could officially join the team 💪).
Welcome adults who’ve “dropped off a cliff” from traditional support — offering structure, skill-building and a safe, non-judgemental environment to rebuild confidence.
Serve the public with patience and purpose — gently educating customers on how autism, ADHD and learning differences affect our team and community.
Model true inclusion — not a slogan, but a daily practice.
🎓 Beyond the Café — Outreach, Advocacy & Training
Glowsticks doesn’t stop at our front door. We also:
Deliver external training packages and autism & ADHD awareness sessions for organisations, schools and employers.
Carry out sensory audits to help others make their spaces inclusive.
Run support groups for individuals and families.
Host dignitaries and professionals who visit to see inclusive employment in action.
Chris, our trustee, operates Elevating Voices CIC — our sister project promoting autism advocacy through film and storytelling.
👶 Saturday Stay & Play
Every Saturday morning (10am–11am) we host a completely free Stay & Play session for children and families (booking required).
These sessions are led by:
Tracey, our Vice Chair and EYFS specialist with 35 years of experience, and
Lucy, a highly qualified Teaching Assistant with incredible skill in building positive, trusting relationships with young children.
Up until recently, Support Worker Kelsey was also a familiar face at Stay & Play — she’s now moved into the café, providing support to our 14+ staff and absolutely shining brighter than ever. She’s joined by:
Kate, our trainee support worker currently completing her qualification at Middlesbrough College alongside Kelsey,
Sue, a seasoned professional with years of experience supporting neurodivergent children and adults, and
Danni, our newest support worker, who’s already blowing us away with her ability to bring out the very best in our supported staff and volunteers.
We are so lucky — and so proud — to have each and every one of them. 💛
🌍 Why the Different Lanyards?
Another question we get a lot! Here’s what they mean:
🖤 Black Lanyard — Senior Management & Trustees
(Operational trustees also wear a navy blue polo shirt so you can spot them easily.)
💙 Blue Lanyard — Support Workers
Our day-to-day mentors, encouragers and scaffolds.
💚 Green Lanyard — Catering Assistants / Supported Staff Members
Our incredible neurodivergent team who make, serve and shine.
❤️ Red Lanyard — Apprentices
Our learners gaining qualifications, experience and confidence in real roles.
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Every latte, every bake, every conversation and every training session all serve one purpose:
to prove that when people are supported to shine their way — the whole place glows. 💛
