SIP x The Nesbitt Centre: Unlocking Potential Through Inclusive Employment for Adults with Special Learning Needs

Yung Ho Bun, Cafe Supervisor, reflects on 12 years at The Nesbitt Centre

When Bun talks about his twelve years at The Nesbitt Centre, he does not reach for numbers or milestones. He talks about learning to make chicken rolls and sandwiches. He talks about his colleagues. "I like working with them," he says, without a moment's pause. "I am very happy."

It is a simple statement. But behind it sits a decade of showing up, of learning, of belonging somewhere. That, in a sentence, is what The Nesbitt Centre does — not to prove a point, but to make sure that every person has a real and dignified place in the community.

The SIP Team, along with the pro-bono partners involved in the process, visited Museum Café 8

A Model Thirty Years in the Making

Founded in 1993, The Nesbitt Centre (TNC) is one of Hong Kong's longest-standing charitable organisations dedicated to the life development needs of English-medium adults with special learning needs. Through education, vocational training and residential support, TNC helps individuals engage with their community, develop their potential, and live with independence and purpose.

TNC operates two learning centres — in Sai Ying Pun and Chai Wan — and runs multiple social enterprises in the food and beverage sector, including The Nest@St John's Cathedral, The Nest@St. Andrew's Church, The Nest@SPCA Tsing Yi, and Museum Café 8 at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. Of the 38 staff employed across these social enterprises, 30 are neurodiverse. Across the wider organisation, more than 60 people are employed, 39 of whom are adults with special learning needs. These are not symbolic figures, they are the evidence of a working model. 

At the heart of TNC's approach is a clear pathway: from the learning centre into real F&B workplaces, where learners build not only technical skills but confidence, communication, and the foundations for independence. Melody De Leon, Senior Manager at TNC, puts it plainly: "For me, inclusive employment is very important. We give them a chance to be part of our community."

"The happiness isn’t from their ability, but from the environment that lets them feel comfortable enough to communicate. That is what moves me," said Dr. Billy Yeung

The Moment That Changes Everything

Dr. Billy Yeung, Executive Director of The Nesbitt Centre, was born in Hong Kong, grew up in the UK, and spent his career in information technology before retiring and joining the NGO sector. He describes the transition as a kind of rebirth — and one afternoon in particular has never left him.

A learner who had always been withdrawn and largely silent walked up to him and called out his name. "It felt like watching a child say their first words," Dr. Yeung recalls. "Even grown men can be moved to tears."

He speaks with equal conviction about the community TNC serves, a population that has long been underserved in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong may be prosperous, but there are still many places that need a helping hand." And what he most hopes this city learns: "Hong Kong needs to learn to accommodate them and to recognise their strengths."

The team at Museum Café 8

Every Step Forward Counts

For Melody De Leon, Senior Manager at TNC, the most memorable moment in her career did not happen at a launch or a ceremony. It happened quietly, over time. She spotted a staff member's potential, designed a training programme around her, and watched — patiently, carefully — as that person grew. Eventually, she was promoted to manager of one of TNC's social enterprises. 

"Seeing her growing, seeing her potential, seeing how she can manage. When I see staff growing, gaining confidence, and progressing toward independence, that is something I will never forget."

Leanne, a Café Supervisor who has been with TNC for two years, captures the everyday feel of the workplace simply: "We usually work as a team. I love being with them. It feels comfortable." It is that steady, accumulated trust that gives each person the space to find their footing.

For Melody, the work crossed beyond any job description long ago. "This is not just work for me. It is a mission. This is the purpose of my existence. I love them. That is it. And I know they do as well. You can feel it when they are attached to you."

Aligned Values, Rigorous Due Diligence

Before committing its investment, Social Impact Partners (SIP) conducted thorough due diligence with the support of a network of pro-bono partners. Legal review was handled by Johnson Stokes & Master, financial assessment by Deloitte, management evaluation by Egon Zehnder, and ESG assessment by Pacific Risk Advisors.

Samuel Lau, Advisor at Pacific Risk Advisors, who led the ESG due diligence, noted TNC's strong alignment with both regulatory expectations and SIP's core values: "The Nesbitt Centre was very positive and had structures in place to manage SEN individuals in the workplace — very much aligned with Hong Kong labour law expectations and what the Social Welfare Department expects from operators."

Alan Lau, Responsible Business Lead at Johnson Stokes & Master, described TNC as a comprehensive, end-to-end organisation: "It provides a full continuum of services, from training to employment. SIP played a vital role in bridging communication between the legal team and the charity, helping TNC understand requirements and locate the appropriate documentation."

A HKD 1 Million Commitment to Scale What Works

In 2025, SIP provided a HKD 1 million loan to The Nesbitt Centre. The investment will support marketing and business development while enabling TNC to expand its F&B social enterprises — creating more employment opportunities for adults with special learning needs and strengthening the long-term financial sustainability of TNC's model. SIP will continue to provide post-investment support to help TNC consolidate its operations and build toward lasting impact.

This investment reflects SIP's commitment to promoting health, well-being and reduced inequalities in Hong Kong. SIP will continue to provide post-investment support to help TNC strengthen its operations and build toward long-term sustainability.

Training conducted by TNC at one of their Learning Centres

The Smile That No Spreadsheet Can Capture

TNC currently supports 47+ learners through its Learning Centre Activities Programme and employs over 60 staff, 39 of whom are adults with special learning needs, across its enterprises. Parents sometimes do not realise what their children are capable of. As Dr. Billy Yeung put it: "Parents don't know that their child can do it. That is the greatest reward for me. Sometimes it is not something you can measure in numbers. It is their genuine smile. A very pure smile."

At The Nesbitt Centre, a cup of coffee carries twelve years of someone's effort, a name spoken aloud for the very first time, and a manager watching a former learner step into her own. SIP's investment is a commitment to the belief that some returns — the human ones, the lasting ones — are always worth backing.

Please see our social impact story video with The Nesbitt Centre for more details:

Short video: https://youtu.be/TlLf5PGb3zw

Long video: https://youtu.be/mWWxmIK4J50

The article is edited by LBS Communications Consulting Ltd.