Bakery offers life changes and a taste of tradition

May 26th 2026

A new bakery in Middlesbrough is offering life chances for neurodivergent young people whilst providing Teessiders with a special taste of their heritage. 

Breadsticks, in the Dundas Shopping Centre, is run by the Glowsticks charity which opened a café above the bakery just over a year ago.

There, more than 40 young people with autism, ADHD and learning disabilities have been given the opportunity to develop both their employability and life skills, mentored by trustees from the charity, support workers and hospitality professionals. Twelve of them have moved on to other employment after gaining invaluable work experience.

Glowsticks has appointed a new chef, 23-year-old Aaron Muirhead, and is also looking to recruit a skilled baker to keep up with customer demand for fadgies, the traditional triangular Teesside bread buns. Nearly 250 are sold every day, already contributing to a steep rise in the charity’s income.

Glowsticks founder Rebecca Ibbotson said some young people arrive at Glowsticks “traumatised” by their previous experiences. “But here they feel seen, they feel wanted and that gives them so much confidence,” she said. “They begin to understand the world of work and themselves. We provide a training environment, bridging the gap between education and the real world.”

Charity trustee Pete Stockdale-Woodhead said people working at Glowsticks will find their feet in the café before assisting in Breadsticks. “They learn their skills first, then graduate to the bakery. It’s a different, more transactional environment, not fast food but food on the go.”

Seventeen-year-old Brett Stockdale, who has additional needs, said a year ago he couldn’t even make a cup of tea. Now he is a trained barista, working part-time in both the café and bakery. “I’ve learnt a bunch of new skills and it’s helped me with life,” said Brett, who is at college training to be a bricklayer.

The charity says its determination to continue offering opportunities for young people like Brett largely depends on the commercial success of its café and bakery. They have to be competitive, give value for money and provide exceptional quality.

New chef Aaron Muirhead, who has worked in a number of professional kitchens, said he is determined to deliver that high standard of food as well as supporting Glowsticks’ values. “I’ve got members of my family who are on the autism spectrum and they find it difficult day to day,” he said. “So it’s nice to know they’re not alone and there are organisations like this who want to help them.”

The Breadsticks Bakery opened in a unit previously occupied by the Brickyard Bakery which closed in January 2025. Before then it was a Cooplands bakery which also ran the upstairs café – now Glowsticks – under its Orchard brand.

Richard Wilson, a Partner with Portland Dodds Brown, said the owner of the Dundas Shopping is extremely supportive of Glowsticks and – for example - paid for one of the bakery’s ovens to be refurbished before it moved in.

“As well as the opportunities it provides for young people, Glowsticks is also providing an invaluable service for customers, particularly students cutting through the Dundas on their way to college,” said Mr Wilson, whose company manages the shopping centre.

“Despite the well-publicised closure of some big name retailers in Middlesbrough town centre, the Dundas Shopping Centre - and its immediate area – are attracting new independent businesses and that’s a positive sign for the future.”

Already this year, as well as the Glowsticks Bakery, The Greek Spot and Teddy’s Boutique have opened just outside the Centre, while Steel River Comics, Sarah’s Gifts and the Hanger Shop have begun trading in the Dundas Indoor Market.