Did you know… we are a Disability Confident Leader
70% of our staff force has a disability.

• The Usual Place is an award-winning organisation, World Host Destination and a Disability Confident Leader. The Usual Place opened its doors as a community cafe in 2015 and is the brainchild of CEO Heather Hall.
• We serve delicious food daily from 9.30am – 4pm Monday – Friday
• Operating as a community café, we offer a delicious menu for breakfast, lunch, light snacks, afternoon teas and takeaway. 
• Everything is freshly prepared, cooked and baked in our kitchen using local produce where possible with tasty vegan and vegetarian options
• Our shop is open during cafe hours and sells a wide range of gifts and toys
• This social enterprise provides training, education and employability skills for young people with additional support needs.  Many of the young people who have thrived through our programmes would previously have been invisible, excluded, at risk of isolation and loneliness and importantly, unable to fulfil their potential as valuable, active citizens contributing positively to their communities.
• We focus on promoting the innate talents and capabilities of young people, enabling and empowering them to flourish, and challenging the established stereotype of young people with learning disabilities.
• We are based in a famous historic building in the heart of Dumfries.
• All the money we make in the café, and from room and event rental is used to cover business costs in support of our aims. To find out more, please visit our Venue Hire page.
• Every area of The Usual Place is fully accessible and wheelchair-friendly throughout.
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• We also have an award-winning Changing Places Toilet

OUR CORE VALUES

AWARDS

DG Life Awards – Young Community Champion (2022), Awarded to Sarah Cronie, mentor

OT Awards – Best Placement (Role Emerging) Winner (2020)

OT Awards – Best Practice Educator (Role Emerging) Winner (2020) – Awarded to Sandra McGrath, Early Enablement

SCDI Skills and Learning Award (2020) – Awarded to Morgan Deer, mentor

SQA Star Awards – Pride O’ Worth (2019)

SQA Star Awards – Partnership of the Year (2019)

Nithsdale in Bloom – Best Commercial Premises (2019, 2018, 2017)

Nithsdale in Bloom – Overall Winner (2018)

NHS – Healthy Living Award Award (2018)

Sudocrem – UK Changing Places Toilet of the Year (2018)

CIS Educator of the Year (2018) – Awarded to Tony Budde, External/Chef Assessor

PAMIS – Most Accessible Building and Business, West Scotland (2017)

People First – World Host Destination (2017)

DG Life Award – Volunteer of the Year (2016) – Awarded to Amy Wright, Chairperson

Dumfries in Bloom – Best Newcomer (2016)

DG Life Awards – Best Café (2016)

ICET

Inspired Community Enterprise Trust LTD (ICET) was set up in November 2011 with the aim of responding to the voice of young disabled people who shared their concerns and fears about the lack of employment, Further Education and community-based opportunities available to young people with additional support needs.

Young people wanted us to develop employment and training opportunities and enable their wider community relationships and citizenship opportunities.

We acquired the use of the former Townhead Church building which was latterly used as Dumfries Academy Dining Room, from Dumfries and Galloway Council. Following extensive refurbishment, the building includes a large contemporary community cafe, kitchen area and flexible training / meeting rooms The Usual Place opened on July 31st, 2015.

We created an innovative partnership with Dumfries and Galloway College and developed an accessible approach to delivering an externally accredited SVQ Qualification in Hospitality. Young people successfully piloted this qualification leading developments.

We now deliver 4 accessible SVQ’s and a range of other qualifications including Food Safety and First Aid