A Dhoon café has received formal recognition from the government for its work supporting autistic people and helping to build a more autism-friendly island.

Zen at the Glen, which opened last year, has been sent a Letter of Recognition by the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledging its contribution to the island’s Autism Spectrum Condition Strategy.

The social enterprise café employs three autistic people, while another member of the autistic community produces its artwork and café boards.

In a post announcing the recognition, the team said it had always intended for the business to provide social value alongside coffee, food and hospitality.

‘When we opened Zen, we agreed from day one this place was always going to offer social value to our community, not just good coffee and a nice view,’ the café said.

‘Our autistic team members are incredible – they run this café better than we do,’ the post said.

‘What we are doing is just paying people fairly for good work, which shouldn’t be remarkable.’

Zen at the Glen said employment opportunities for neurodiverse people on the island remained limited and argued that voluntary roles should not be seen as a substitute for paid work.

‘If someone is working, they should be paid,’ the team said.

It added: ‘Imagine if every business on the island took on one neurodiverse team member. Our neurodiverse community would be thriving.’

The letter from the DHSC praised the café’s ‘dedication, expertise and commitment’ to working with the autistic community.

It said the business was helping to turn the ambitions of the Autism Spectrum Condition Strategy into ‘practical action’.

The strategy was launched in 2024 as part of the government’s Our Island Plan and aims to improve outcomes for autistic people and their families.

‘Businesses such as yours help to build strong foundations for inclusive services and spaces that will benefit people with Autism Spectrum Condition for years to come,’ the letter said.