FOR 10 years the charity Yellow Submarine has been supporting people with learning disabilities and autism, most visibly through its cafes in Oxford and Witney.

Supporters, staff, members and their families joined together on Saturday to celebrate its first decade with a birthday party.

In its first 10 years, Yellow Submarine has grown from a two-person enterprise, to a thriving charity providing over 37,500 hours of support to members, with residential holidays, social clubs, school holiday activities, sheltered work experience, traineeships and its social enterprise cafes.

The event at Hill End Centre, in Eynsham Road, featured fun, games, live music, food and decorated cakes from Julia Atkinson of Summertown bakers Happy Cakes.

Oxford Mail:

Co-director Kate Sankey said: “We are really proud of the organisation Yellow Submarine has become. While we have grown, we have been able to maintain our member-centred approach and our capacity to evolve.”

“Over the past 10 years there have been numerous highlights, from our first residential holiday to opening the doors of our cafes. We hope our projects will have long-term, lasting benefits for our members – from increased confidence in socialising to building employability skills.”

“The party was a great way for us to be able to say thank you to those who have helped us over the past decade and celebrate alongside our members and their families.”