Nickel Support Enterprise Hub

Funded on
26 Jun 2020

Nickel Support have the opportunity to turn an old Chinese takeaway into a wonderful, fully accessible space for adults with learning disabilities to run social enterprises and gain paid employment.

£31,596 Raised of £31,655

184 Backers

99%

Costs

Passenger Lift £25,066
Solar Panel £4,314
Target: (inc. fees) £31,654

http://Www.nickel.org.uk

Nickel Support is a community interest company based in Sutton supporting with adults with learning disabilities. The focus of the organisation is to develop enterprises, which are managed and run by the trainees with learning disabilities themselves.

The overarching aim is to offer paid employment to as many people with learning disabilities as possible, from income generated from the enterprises they oversee.

Nickel Support was formed by Elena Nicola and Nick Walsh seven years ago, in response to the lack of opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. They both worked for various local charities for approximately 25 years’ experience between them. They became disillusioned by the fact that services for adults with learning disabilities were stagnant and people weren’t being offered real choice and control over their lives. It had become a case of getting people through the door, as opposed to quality support.

Elena, a qualified social worker, and Nick, who has many years’ experience in senior management roles in the voluntary sector, decided that they were going to do something about it and set up the organisation with a small loan and the belief and passion that they could make a real difference in world of learning disabilities. It has been an incredibly tough journey, trying to get people to believe in this new innovative way of supporting adults with learning disabilities. However, seven years on and hitting capacity, the overriding feeling is that of pride … the vision of having people with learning disabilities standing side by side with their peers in their community is edging closer. A learning disability revolution is well under way!

People with learning disabilities need to feel part of their community and not marginalised. They need to have a purpose in their lives, which is achieved through having access to money, housing, freedom, support, life and above all, love. Nickel Support uses these principles to underpin the service. Nickel Support can categorially state that the organisation has made positive differences to the lives of all trainees who attend the service.

Nickel Support is a community organisation, run by the community and shaped by the community. The organisation is very aware that without them it is nothing, it only exists because the community believes in the company ethos and way of working.

Project Owner: Nickel Support The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.