Our Charity
A charity since 1997, The CRUMBS Project was founded by the late Anne Gardner MBE and originally sprung from the need for those in long-stay care to have a structured programme of support to encourage their learning and professional development.
Charitable objective:
“The promotion of education and social inclusion of disadvantaged individuals, by providing learning and training designed to assist in progress towards better employment and a more independent life through vocational training”.
From a dedicated professional training centre in Bournemouth, we provide training in catering, housekeeping and administration for adults with a range of disabilities, giving them the life skills that encourage them into employment and independent living.
Anne's Story

Anne Gardner MBE
The Crumbs Project founder
(1931-2017)
"At 17 our daughter Liz started to hear the voices which were to torment her for most of her adult life. There seemed little I could do: every which-way I turned I drew a blank.... and I began to get involved in talking: to others in the same position, to psychiatrists, to nutritionists... anyone who had something to contribute to a puzzle which made no sense.
Then the practical side of me clicked in and I became involved in projects to help those with enduring mental illness, in the days when long-term stay in a mental hospital was often normal and the future looked very dark.
CRUMBS sprung from the need for those in long-stay care to have a pattern to their day: a skill at their finger tips and something to talk about. Sadly Liz never became involved, through choice, but many others have now been through the skilled fingers of our dedicated staff team. Working as we did in those days, many badly damaged people came through the doors to our sheltered kitchen environment where so much recovery took place.
Two years after becoming a charity we expanded to include persons with learning disability and stabilised addiction problems and thus we evolved into the mixed disability workforce which is so successful today. Support from Grant-making Trusts enabled us to expand: the staff team and trainee numbers grew and the change to training for independence and employment became our aim.
Liz lost her fight with cancer just as Crumbs Café was opening. I like to think that she would have taken pleasure from just knowing how many have been helped in their struggle to just enjoy life in the Community, even though I was so singularly unable to do the same for her."
Anne Gardner MBE (1931-2017) – The CRUMBS Project founder
Who We Are

Jane
With a Catering sector background developed over 25 years, including roles as a Catering Manager within cafes and restaurants, Jane joined CRUMBS in 2016…

Dave
Dave started working at a young age recognising it would be a path to his independence, and spent over 30 years in the baking industry, before joining CRUMBS in 2018…

Helen
Having developed a passion for baking at a young age, Helen undertook a Baking & Confectionary college course after leaving School before working in retail…

Fiona

Lee

Ursula
Before joining CRUMBS in 2005 Ursula spent 8 years as a Chef within the Royal Logistics Corp, providing catering support to the British Army and developing skills in field catering…
Support Staff
We have a skilled team of supporting staff who work in the CRUMBS kitchens and behind the scenes to help us to provide training and life skills that encourage disadvantaged adults into employment and independent living. Carol, Caroline, Martin and Sonny have all progressed through their own CRUMBS journeys as trainees to gain jobs directly with us and provide key support, guidance and encouragement to our current trainees.
Our Trustees
Professor Peter A Jones
MBE (Chair)
Mark Collinge
Sarah Durrans
Douglas Eyre
Stephen Murcer
Simon Thomas
Passionate about the hospitality industry, Simon has a background as a general manager and is a senior academic at Bournemouth University…
Sarah Howard
Jordan Stovold
Jordan is a Product Owner and Strategic Analyst working on new product development and innovation in the software industry…