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Jennifer Kettell raised £5,330 from 68 supporters

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Closed 29/10/2021

0%
£5,330
raised of £10,000 target by 68 supporters

    Weʼve raised £5,330 to Buy a coffee van to train young people with severe or specific learning difficulties to help their chances of getting work after school.

    Funded on Friday, 29th October 2021

    Don't have time to donate right now?

    Story

    A bit of background...

    My daughter Jessica has Autism and severe learning difficulties. She is turning 17 this year and this led me to look into what is 'out there' for her when she leaves school. There are supported internships for young people with disabilities but most are more suitable for young people that have milder learning difficulties, not for kids like Jessica. Young people who have severe/specific learning difficulties (SLD) need a lot more time to process what they are learning with daily repetition and a much longer time to consolidate that learning. They need to be learning life and work skills from a younger age if they are to stand a chance of getting work when they reach adulthood. Unemployment amongst this cohort is a huge problem. Currently only 0.8% of people aged 16-64 years with a severe or specific learning disability are in work - See here on Chart 6 ONS Data . This is shocking as our youngsters have a lot to give their local communities and do not want to be sitting at home doing nothing. . The many barriers faced by people with a learning disability to access employment include:

    • a lack of good quality support to get and maintain employment

    • a lack of support to build confidence and skills

    • employers’ attitudes

    • lack of understanding as to what people with a learning disability can do with the right support. (Source: Mencap 2019)

    Young people with learning difficulties have a right to work, to have the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts and to live life to the full.

    I therefore decided to form a Community Interest Company for young people with SLD aged 14+ and it will take the form of a coffee van. This is a not for profit company and any monies made from the sale of coffees and other goods will be reinvested into the company to train more students.

    Why a coffee van?

    Coffee is a growing trend and not seasonal. It allows us to start small scale, has low start-up costs, less overheads, good profit margins (up to 95% - NCASS), allows for flexibility and will be run as a real business. It can be parked outside the students’ current place of education. This saves travel time but also means that the students are already somewhere familiar, which will reduce anxiety (common in children with disabilities).

    What the students will learn/gain

    • Communication skills and meeting new people/friends.

    • Working as part of a team

    • Decision making

    • Food and drink preparation

    • Hygiene and safety

    • Functional numeracy and literacy

    • Money handling

    • Experience of running and contributing to a real business.

    • Baking cakes and biscuits

    • Gain industry recognised certification to take on to other employers (ASDAN, NVQ, food hygiene, First Aid)

    Our Mission

    1. To provide a training and work placement giving experience and opportunities for age 14+ with learning difficulties to bridge the gap between education and supported internships/employment.

    2. Students to gain experience of running/working for a real business.

    3. To provide social engagement and integration between SEN young people and their local community.

    4. To raise awareness of SEN and to showcase the students’ skills and what contribution they can make to society.

    5. To use local suppliers as much as possible to create a partnership with the local community.

    6. To give young people with learning difficulties the chance to succeed, increase independence, decrease social isolation, and contribute to good overall mental health.

    Updates

    1

    • Jennifer Kettell3 years ago
      Jennifer Kettell

      Jennifer Kettell

      3 years ago

      Dear Supporters. Thank you again so very much for your donations. I just wanted to let you know that we are nearly half way to our target at an amazing £4500!!! I hate to keep asking for help (not at all part of my nature) but as it's for such an amazing cause, can I please ask you to share my venture with your friends and family, either through email or social media to ask them to support us as well? Also, for those that can make it to Reading when we're all set up, your donation has earned you 5 free hot drinks! Thank you again Jennie

      Share this update to help us raise more

    3 years ago

    Jennifer Kettell started crowdfunding

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    Page last updated on: 9/27/2021 17.27

    Supporters

    68

    • Jemma Parks

      Jemma Parks

      Sep 27, 2021

      Proud to have worked at the Avenue school for 10 years. This is a great idea.

      £5.00

    • Isobel Ballsdon

      Isobel Ballsdon

      Sep 20, 2021

      Delighted to donate to this excellent cause

    • Polly Lewis

      Polly Lewis

      Sep 8, 2021

      £20.00

    • Zobia Kalim

      Zobia Kalim

      Sep 7, 2021

      Good luck Jennie!

      £25.00

    • Julie Vallard

      Julie Vallard

      Sep 3, 2021

      What an amazing venture - very best of luck to you and all the young people you will help!

      £10.00

    • Beata

      Beata

      Sep 2, 2021

      Keep up the great work! It's an amazing idea! You are a great parent and a beautiful human being.

      £10.00

    • Nicki Brewer

      Nicki Brewer

      Sep 1, 2021

      This is such an amazing idea. I’m so proud of you Jennie xxx

      £40.00

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    About Crowdfunding
    About the fundraiser
    Jennifer Kettell

    Jennifer Kettell

    I have 2 daughters with special needs. I work for a charity helping parents with special children. I worked with teenagers with Autism in residential. I am a parent governor at a special needs school and used to run holiday clubs for children with special needs.

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