Big plans for Exeter Community Initiatives
This year has been quite a momentous one for Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI).
We have successfully taken on two extra Children's Centres (Sure Start) in Wonford and Countess Wear to accompany our existing Flying Start Children's Centre.
We have had a change of Chief Executive. I stepped into Alistair Macintosh's large shoes in July 2012 and have been getting to grips with the job over the last year and making changes so ECI is facing the challenges of the future head on.
We said a sad goodbye to our Harvest project, which has played such a big role in our work for the last three years, particularly the staff Andi & Ellie. Although some of the work continues - seeds swaps have been taken on by Love Local Food, community growing being a variety of growing groups across the city and City Fruit by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Our Family & Youth Resource project has gone from strength to strength. This project works on an intensive 1:1 basis with families with emotional and practical issues; and with excluded young people to skill up and get ready for the job market. Highly competent workers supervised by a qualified social worker with 30 years experience make this is a high quality and safe service.
Transitions entered its 3rd year of operation in April, working with people making the transition to independent living, to increase their resilience through developing their skills and building networks in their communities.
We are involved in helping coordinate Exeter's Alternative Giving Scheme, which aims to reduce the supply of money to anyone begging. This will reduce the supply of money that could be spent on drugs and alcohol. All the proceeds go towards a group of local charities delivering homelessness and treatment services.
We have just started a project that aims to give people who use drug and alcohol services in the area a chance to influence decision-makers and have a say in how the services should be run in the future.
And if all that wasn't enough...! We are kick-starting three social enterprises. At the beginning of 2012 ECI recognised that long-term unemployment is an issue that needs particular attention if we are to avoid the next generation of unemployed.
Long-term unemployment has been increasing over the past four years. This is not surprising – as unemployment increases there is a danger that some people will persistently fail to find a job, and become long-term unemployed.
Youth long-term unemployment has now risen 145% since the recession and 418% since its lowest point in 2002. Long-term unemployment worsens social exclusion and all the problems that go with it.
So we decided that we would focus on providing training and skills through a social enterprise model. Since then we have been lucky enough to be in the position to be able to start:
- Exeter Community Bikes
- Exeter Urban Farm
- A Children's Clothes Shop
Now we need the support of local people to help make it happen. For the three projects we need a total of £12,000 for set up costs. We then need funds to maintain the projects until the break even point is reached and surplus generated.
In total we need £68,000 for the first year's operating costs. Donations can be given via our online giving page here:
We need donations of:
• Unwanted & abandoned ADULTS' Bicycles, plus:
• Bicycle parts (chains, wheels, etc.)
• Bicycle tools
• Bicycle workshop equipment
• Children's and baby clothes and quality toys
Third we need volunteers and staff. We badly need volunteers with skills as: • shop assistants
• bike mechanics
• mushroom growers!
We will also be recruiting for:
• an experienced shop manager
• an urban farmer.
If you are interest in what we're doing, please contact me on matt@eci.org.uk or 01392 205800.
