Serendipities Disabled Access Toilet
Donation protected
The short story:
We, Uppertunity, are a non profit organisation who runs a cafe for individuals with additional needs, mental health barriers and autism to gain life and employability skills. We also provide an inclusive and safe space for the community to get together. We are raising funds to install a disabled access toilet to make our space completely accessible to all. We have £2000 of £8000 so far, and have planning permission and plans thanks to the help of a local architect, Jon Frullani Architect. By having a disabled access toilet, we will be able to offer volunteering and placement opportunities to more individuals as well as provide a space to more local community groups.
The long story:
Uppertunity is a social enterprise in Dundee, providing a personal development service and inclusive social opportunities for adults with additional needs, learning disabilities, mental health barriers and autism. We opened a cafe in August 2019, called Serendipities.
The idea for Serendipities Cafe stemmed from various reasons and acknowledgments. The main acknowledgment was seeing the development happening in our members during their commitment in pursing their ambitions at our activity groups. We knew from their experiences that they face challenges in continuing their development beyond a community-based setting. So we developed a space for our members to volunteer and gain employability skills.
We have over 20 volunteers who assist in the café and/or make the cakes at our kitchen facility at The Circle. The aim is to give people facing barriers work/volunteer experience in a space they feel valued, fits their own interests and enables them to use their assets. We hope by doing so, some will go onto employment, some perhaps with us. Many others are satisfied with the experiences volunteering brings.
Another aim of the cafe is to generate another form of income (So that we are not reliant on funding), with all profits being used at our premises: running weekly art groups, counselling, gardening and life skills for our members.
We hope to see more opportunities for the individuals we target to be active citizens in society. Whether that be through work, volunteering, being involved in their community, campaigning for justice, being entrepreneurs or having a feeling that they belong somewhere. It is down to the individuals to decide. Our intention is to deliver the activities that will connect the individual with what their aspirations are and provide that platform to take the next steps.
We were looking for a space for a while and this space became available. It was a great location and size, and we couldn't let it pass. . At the moment we have a small toilet on the bottom floor. The toilet would upgrade accessibility thus make the space more equipped to host activities and events. This will help in creating an egalitarian and action orientated events programme including mental health and wellbeing workshops, zero waste workshops, and creative nights with local individuals. The fund will enable us to amplify what we have started. The name Serendipities was chosen specifically because of our vision for this venture: the re-occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. In a prime location, with close proximity to the train station and V&A Dundee, we can connect the diversity in action in Dundee with the wider world.
We, Uppertunity, are a non profit organisation who runs a cafe for individuals with additional needs, mental health barriers and autism to gain life and employability skills. We also provide an inclusive and safe space for the community to get together. We are raising funds to install a disabled access toilet to make our space completely accessible to all. We have £2000 of £8000 so far, and have planning permission and plans thanks to the help of a local architect, Jon Frullani Architect. By having a disabled access toilet, we will be able to offer volunteering and placement opportunities to more individuals as well as provide a space to more local community groups.
The long story:
Uppertunity is a social enterprise in Dundee, providing a personal development service and inclusive social opportunities for adults with additional needs, learning disabilities, mental health barriers and autism. We opened a cafe in August 2019, called Serendipities.
The idea for Serendipities Cafe stemmed from various reasons and acknowledgments. The main acknowledgment was seeing the development happening in our members during their commitment in pursing their ambitions at our activity groups. We knew from their experiences that they face challenges in continuing their development beyond a community-based setting. So we developed a space for our members to volunteer and gain employability skills.
We have over 20 volunteers who assist in the café and/or make the cakes at our kitchen facility at The Circle. The aim is to give people facing barriers work/volunteer experience in a space they feel valued, fits their own interests and enables them to use their assets. We hope by doing so, some will go onto employment, some perhaps with us. Many others are satisfied with the experiences volunteering brings.
Another aim of the cafe is to generate another form of income (So that we are not reliant on funding), with all profits being used at our premises: running weekly art groups, counselling, gardening and life skills for our members.
We hope to see more opportunities for the individuals we target to be active citizens in society. Whether that be through work, volunteering, being involved in their community, campaigning for justice, being entrepreneurs or having a feeling that they belong somewhere. It is down to the individuals to decide. Our intention is to deliver the activities that will connect the individual with what their aspirations are and provide that platform to take the next steps.
We were looking for a space for a while and this space became available. It was a great location and size, and we couldn't let it pass. . At the moment we have a small toilet on the bottom floor. The toilet would upgrade accessibility thus make the space more equipped to host activities and events. This will help in creating an egalitarian and action orientated events programme including mental health and wellbeing workshops, zero waste workshops, and creative nights with local individuals. The fund will enable us to amplify what we have started. The name Serendipities was chosen specifically because of our vision for this venture: the re-occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. In a prime location, with close proximity to the train station and V&A Dundee, we can connect the diversity in action in Dundee with the wider world.
Organizer
Danielle Gaffney Du Plooy
Organizer
Scotland
