About Kimel Cafe

Sharon proudly hails from God’s chosen county; Yorkshire – but grew up in Cheshire. Sharon gained a degree in International Business from Sheffield. A journey that would take her for a study year in Bordeaux, followed by working in both Turin and Paris. Whilst the French and Italian might be rusty at first, it is still there somewhere if anyone fancies a chat. Working life brought her to Berkshire, establishing a successful sales career in the early days of the dot com boom. And it was in Wokingham that she made her home, giving up chasing sales targets for raising 3 children. She was an early pioneer of buggy running, and come school time she was often seen sprinting down the Barkham Road with her three wheeler, giving the kids (and the dog) some early pre-school adrenaline rushes. And it was in this education environment at Meadow Nursery that she stayed, as nursery assistant developing into one-on-one roles and a specific focus on SEN. Sharon is energetic, loves exercise and generally likes to keep busy. She has always played an active voluntary role in the community, from school governor, to swimming club committee, to volunteer at The Link Visiting Scheme and more. Involved in Kimel Cafe from the outset, with painting, decorating and fitting out the interior, Sharon now co-manages the cafe with a strong focus on mentoring and developing the young staff members in a safe and nurturing environment.

Nicky works in the Kimel Cafe as a mentor. Nicky has extensive experience in the catering and hospitality industry, including working for local government departments in Environmental Health and Contract Management & Procurement for over 20 years. She loves spending time with family and friends, with a passion for walking and keeping fit.

I qualified as a mental health nurse in 1990 and worked in several different areas of care, both here and Australia, before specialising in community nursing with early onset dementia. I loved my work but left nursing in 2003 to spend time raising my children and to set up an electrical contracting business with my husband where I am responsible for the accounting and staff management. During this time, I also volunteered as a school governor and helped with catering at all camps with our local scout group. I am excited to have the opportunity to be involved with the Kimel Café and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together. I was born and raised in Wokingham and although the town has grown considerably in recent years I am pleased it still is a strong, supportive community. In my spare time I enjoy music, films, camping and hiking as well as spending time with family and friends.

Nic is the owner of Willy Wonka Travel, the only certified Autism Travel Professional in the UK as well as the founder and driving influence & inspiration for the Kimel Group. He’s worked in travel for over 30 years as a concierge in London. He won an Acorn Award aged 25 and was the first concierge in the UK to receive this award, which is for young aspiring hotel staff and recognises the brightest prospects in the hospitality industry. He was one of the youngest concierges to be appointed onto the executive committee of the Le Clefs d’Or (The Golden Keys) for Great Britain and the Commonwealth. His mission is to make all types of travel accessible to people with additional needs. He has a family diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) so his first hand experience of living with autism paired with years in the travel industry enables him to offer this unique service because he understands the details that make a difference.

I am married and have two children – Maya is 14 and Daniel is 11. I was born and grew up in Turkey, and came to England in my early twenties. I am a middle child who has always been independent, curious and interested in learning about new and different things. When I first came to England I felt that (compared to what I was used to in Turkey) people were disconnected with each other’s lives. I guess I felt that way because I grew up in a house with three generations of my family and in a neighbourhood where everybody knew each other, and everyone supported one another. My grandparents were, and still are, a big influences on my outlook in life. I believe our existence in life has purpose. I remember talking with Nic and Rachel about Kimel cafe as a project long before it became reality. I was so touched and excited for the new opportunities that would be given to neurodivergent young adults. My daughter Maya has inspired me with her kindness, care and patience in her friendships with neurodivergent individuals. Children have no judgment on others until they learn it from others. Community matters, and when everyone comes together to help support a project like Kimel Cafe it will be the foundation of a future success story and bring hope to so many people’s lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Kimel family and hope we can continue working together to make this community better for everyone.

Born and brought up in Karachi, Pakistan, I moved to the US for my further education around 1991. I lived in various cities in the USA (NJ, IL and CO) and relocated to the UK during the second half of the Covid year to facilitate the EMEA region. I worked in the Tech sector primarily since after my uni years. I've always had a passion for coffee and am self-taught on the variety of roasting techniques and how the region in which coffee is grown gives its taste. I love to travel with my family and a local coffee shop is always on our list of places to visit. Kimel is a place I get to share my passion for the taste and knowledge of coffee.

My name is Paula and I’ve been working with SEN children and young people for over 25 years. I believe offering support into the world of paid employment is the logical next step. In addition, I want to extend the skills taught by expanding the services offered in the cafe to include a variety of events and experiences.

Our cafe team is made up of young people from the neurodivergent community who are eager to learn new skills and prepare themselves to transition into mainstream employment. By immersing themselves in this nurturing environment our team members grow in confidence and learn essential life skills that prepare them for their futures.