The Little Social, operated by Youth Projects, has brought its café model to one of Melbourne’s largest health infrastructure projects, Footscray Hospital.
The model integrates pre-employment training, work experience, and holistic support to workers through programs including Here4Hospitality and Chop4Change, and serves thousands of hospital staff, patients, and visitors daily.
With youth unemployment and cost-of-living pressures continuing to impact Melbourne’s west, Youth Projects says sourcing employment pathways is becoming increasingly difficult for young people.
Youth Projects Head of Social Enterprise, Celeste Norris, says the success of The Little Socials’ model represents the power of hospitality as a tool for change.
“The Little Social is more than just a café,” says Celeste.
“Every order helps young people gain skills, confidence, and real-world opportunities.
“It shows how hospitality can be both commercially successful and socially impactful.”
Youth Projects says The Little Social – which operates five café locations around Melbourne – has achieved a number of milestones in the past year, including the serving of 250,000 coffees, 28 per cent year-on-year revenue growth, and the support of 44 young people through structured training, with more than half transitioning into employment or further education.
Revenue generated through The Little Social cafés and catering is reinvested into Youth Projects programs.
Reverence Coffee Roasters and La Marzocco both partner with the program.
