Co-operative strikes the right balance

A co-operative offering training to people with severe and enduring mental health needs has developed a reputation as a centre of excellence in furniture restoration.

Co.Operate was established in 1996 to provide a community-based work co-operative, and is part of the Croftlands Trust of Carlisle. It operates a range of commercial services and runs as a business, used and managed by its members.

“Striking the balance between business objectives, targets set by the Learning and Skills Council and our members’ needs was and is difficult to achieve”, said project manager Jeremy Storey. “We do not want and need our members to feel pressurised and stressed. That would defeat the object and they would leave. But we feel we are close to achieving that balance. Attendance has improved from about seven a day to more than 20, and our monthly turnover has increased from about £3,000 to £7,000”.

Co.Operate, which was highly commended in the UK National Training Awards,launched learning programmes in information and communication technology (ICT),furniture restoration and retail and business administration, after being awarded funding through the European Social Fund from the Learning and Skills Council, Cumbria. Training was given in small groups, enabling beginners to have individual attention, and specialist furniture restoration and retail and business administration trainers were engaged. Basic literacy and numeracy courses were added when it was realised that the learners’ lack of skills was preventing them taking part in the programmes.

Members spent anything from an hour a week upwards on the courses. One, who completed a National Vocational Qualification level 1 in business administration, averaged 20 hours a week. Over one year, 24 members completed the ICT course and 20 the furniture-restoration course.

“We have created a great team of people who are willing to support and help each other”, said Jeremy Storey. “People who dare to dream and have aspirations, confidence, skills, self-respect and dignity. Without a grant from the Community Fund, of nearly £400,000, we would not be where we are today. The grant enabled our charity to purchase the building outright, and redesign it internally to suit our needs, also allowing disability access to all areas. An important ongoing funder of our charity is Eden Primary Care Trust,which is committed to supporting us with core funding, as it understands fully our commitment to our learners and how we are able to work with them to motivate them and enable them to achieve.

“We have built up a good reputation for restoring furniture, taking both commissions and repairing and restoring second-hand furniture to sell in our showroom. We are now producing extremely marketable furniture, and our members who have undergone the training are more confident”.