Save SEND Coffee
Donation protected
Help us Save SEND Coffee
Our Story
We started our social enterprise to work with young persons aged 18-29 with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities late last year, and had been working towards launching it for over 3 years.
Our main branch in Camden town is known as hidden Coffee. We chose not to name it SEND so as not to draw too much attention to the learners we work with, who often don't like being singled out as having a hidden disability.
When we started we focused on as best we could just passing as a normal high end coffee shop dedicated to uncompromising coffee quality, hoping that when people found out about our wider mission they would change how they think about people with SEND.
What Went Wrong
We were asked to close when the pandemic started, but our insurance told us we weren't eligible for any claims as we could still be doing takeaway.
Our landlord refused to give us a rent break and are now asking for rent in full.
We tried to take one of the bank loans that the government have offered but we aren't eligible as a nonprofit, particularly a new one.
And perhaps worst of all, the local council wriggled out of giving us the grants that were announced on a technicality that we could never have imagined when we started the business. You see, our landlord never split the property properly with the council and they have it registered as the entire series of arches around Camden Road rather than our little shop.
What We Need the Money For
We've paid all of our suppliers, and we've paid our staff. The founders don't take a wage and our senior management are all volunteers.
All we need is our rent money for the coming months which we had planned to use the grant for.
Any and all help you can give could save our infant social enterprise.
If the council pay the grant like they have for so many others we will cancel this fundraiser.
Our Story
We started our social enterprise to work with young persons aged 18-29 with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities late last year, and had been working towards launching it for over 3 years.
Our main branch in Camden town is known as hidden Coffee. We chose not to name it SEND so as not to draw too much attention to the learners we work with, who often don't like being singled out as having a hidden disability.
When we started we focused on as best we could just passing as a normal high end coffee shop dedicated to uncompromising coffee quality, hoping that when people found out about our wider mission they would change how they think about people with SEND.
What Went Wrong
We were asked to close when the pandemic started, but our insurance told us we weren't eligible for any claims as we could still be doing takeaway.
Our landlord refused to give us a rent break and are now asking for rent in full.
We tried to take one of the bank loans that the government have offered but we aren't eligible as a nonprofit, particularly a new one.
And perhaps worst of all, the local council wriggled out of giving us the grants that were announced on a technicality that we could never have imagined when we started the business. You see, our landlord never split the property properly with the council and they have it registered as the entire series of arches around Camden Road rather than our little shop.
What We Need the Money For
We've paid all of our suppliers, and we've paid our staff. The founders don't take a wage and our senior management are all volunteers.
All we need is our rent money for the coming months which we had planned to use the grant for.
Any and all help you can give could save our infant social enterprise.
If the council pay the grant like they have for so many others we will cancel this fundraiser.
Co-organizers (2)
Harry George
Organizer
Myles Buckley
Beneficiary
Ty Jemmi
Co-organizer