We Walk the Line, is delighted to announce it will be opening a new coffee bar. Located in the foyer of the Firstsite gallery in Colchester, Essex, the new cafe opens for business on February 9th 2017.

It’s the first time a contemporary art gallery has teamed up with a social enterprise aimed at getting young, local people into employment and is a unique collaboration.

Says Firstsite director, Sally Shaw: ‘Firstsite is delighted to be the first gallery to work with We Walk the Line. In addition to providing delicious coffee and cake for our visitors, it is wonderful to think that the gallery is part of this brilliant social enterprise project, providing a vital stepping stone to help local, young people into workThis chimes perfectly with the gallery’s values, creating a place that can not just illuminate the world, but change people’s lives.’

In addition to offering a range of speciality coffees, using our own direct trade ‘Bob’s Blend’ medium roast beans, we will also sell a full range of cakes, bakes and lite bites supplied by Colchester-based Good Souls Bakery and Unique Bakes.

And it’s not just coffee, we will offer a wide variety of fine, specialty and flavoured tea from social enterprise The Tea People, as well as hot chocolate made from single origin real chocolate tablets from Kokoa Collection.

We Walk the Line, a registered social enterprise, is more than just another high-street chain coffee shop. Its ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!’ project, with Colchester’s Kesed Church and Colchester Jobcentre Plus, trains local people marginalised in society to develop the skills they need to find employment and work in the growing artisanal coffee market – making it coffee that literally changes lives.

 

Mayor Julie Young, who was the inspiration behind bringing We Walk the Line to Colchester as a legacy for her Mayoral year, says: ‘We look forward to We Walk the Line’s arrival in the Firstsite art gallery. Our town is known for bringing people and businesses together to share innovative ideas, and coffeehouses certainly play an important role in fostering collaboration, political debate and supporting civic engagement.

So, the next time you drink your flat white at We Walk the Line, or buy our direct trade ‘Bob’s Blend’ beans to brew your coffee at home spare a thought for the positive futures you are helping to build.