The owners of a new café on the Shankill Road are hoping to be there to support people with additional needs.
Izabella's Delights first opened in March, and all members of staff come from a background of working within health and social care environments, each fully trained in caring for people with additional needs.
Husband and wife team Dean and Chantelle Simpson have worked in a variety of roles in the health service, including in dementia care homes, and caring for people with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Read more: Belfast cafés' brilliant gesture in support of World Autism Week
Opening the café - which was named after their young daughter Izabella - was always a dream of theirs, and they wished to combine their experience working in care settings with this to create an inclusive environment.
"It's something close to our hearts, making sure that those with additional needs have somewhere they can come to and feel comfortable," Dean told Belfast Live.
"We both worked in dementia homes, and have previously worked with caring for people with autism and severe learning difficulties. There aren't many places out there at the minute offering such a place, so we wanted to make our mark.
"Hopefully in the future we can get on our feet and try to employ some people with additional needs, to give them that extra support."
They're hoping that anyone with additional needs or mental health issues knows that the café has an open door policy, with Dean adding that they "go above and beyond to ensure we make our customers young and old as comfortable as we can."
He continued: "For anyone with additional needs or anyone older, one of the staff would sit down and have a chat with them, just general chit chat and asking how their day has been. Just to let them know there is someone there happy to chat and help.
"I just want to try and let people know we're here to support them. With us being an additional needs shop, staff are trained with th likes of autism awareness, mental health, and dementia too."
Despite being open just six weeks, the team said they're noticing it's the same faces coming back in to see them on a regular basis.
They're doing what they can to give back to their community, too, by sponsoring youth football teams and taking two 15-year-old's in for paid placement one day a week to prepare them for leaving school.
Dean added: "We would get a lot of young people calling in too, and we always try to have a bit of banter with them. We're trying to make them feel welcome. It's the same young ones in here every day.
"I was a youth worker, so I know young people do need something to do and need somewhere to go. I don't mind them coming in here, sitting somewhere and having a milkshake.
"It's been a hard time for everyone recently so we're just trying to help how we can."
Read more: Shankill Road milkshake shop serving up a treat for the last seven years
Read more: Shankill woman helping community as they support her
For the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
