Inspired by Potential: Dan, a Barista

Meet Dan, a barista.  

Once vulnerably housed, this is where Dan is today:  

I used to be a very anxious person. I still can be very anxious. Growing up in the foster care system from a very young age, I never had that consistent feeling of a supportive family around me.  

But YMCA Exeter gave me the gift of community, the support I needed and I’ve made so much progress.  

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be working for Holy Fools Coffee as a freelance barista, successfully holding down a job and seen as a reliable and consistent person, I would have just laughed.  

But today, that’s me.  

YMCA Exeter partnered with Holy Fool Coffee and offered me the barista training. I really like coffee, so I thought I’d give it a go. The first day of training was nerve-wracking. It was a group of new people, a new space and really intense.  

But the Holy Fools team were great. They gave me loads of one-to-one support over the six-week course and taught me how to make coffee.  

A year on from the start of his training, Dan is part of the Holy Fool Coffee team,  assisting with events, packaging and of course, crafting delicious coffee.   

Find out more about Holy Fool Coffee