The Aubergine Cafe is a special place for autistic people and people of other minority groups, is facing a 50% rent rise and a threat of closing down.
Under the cost-of-living crisis, some small businesses in Cardiff are facing a rise in rent payments and potential closures. Aubergine Cafe is one of those small businesses facing with this plight. It is run by a group of autistic and neurodivergent people.
According to ONS, there are only 22% people suffer from autism are in full-time paid employment in the UK.
Aubergine Cafe strives to improve the situation by offering employment opportunities and training for autistic adults.
They say they are more than a food business. For more than three years, they have been trying to create a safe space not just for autistic people, but for those minority groups such as LGBTQ+, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethinic groups (BAME).
They also hold free events weekly such as open mic or yoga session for people in need to come. They are commonly recognised as an “oasis” for people who suffer any type of disabilities in Cardiff city.
“I have worked here since June 2021 from volunteer and got paid…It’s unique for me” said Sarah Smart. She suffers from autism, ADHD and hearing loss.
The next step for them is to negotiate with their landlord about their new rent in coming days or weeks.
“The raise is a big jump for us, especially in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis and all the prices is going up. We know it won’t be possible for us to stay. We’ve tried to negotiate with the landlord in the past couple of months…” said Aarwn Brown, the co-director of Aubergine Cafe, who suffers from autism.
So far, the Aubergine Cafe has collected nearly a thousand signatures for their petition.