06/12/2024
The College’s new training hub; specifically for SEND young people to gain valuable work skills, in a supported environment opened in time for Christmas with a grand launch event. Known as the Aspire Shop, the facility will provide a retail environment in which learners will contribute to the daily running of the shop, taking part in a range of tasks including preparing merchandise, marketing, and working front-of-house. The work experience will be the ideal environment for them to develop their employability skills and prepare them for life after college.
The shop will sell items of clothing, books, games, bags, toys and small items of furniture donated by the college and wider community. With a strong sustainable ethos, it will provide a place for the public wishing to dispose of unwanted items that have life left in them to recycle and re-use.
It will also stock Aspire Works print and craft products, designed and produced by students. These will change seasonally and currently feature Christmas wreaths, gift tags and crafted tree decorations. To support Dudley residents, the shop aims to tackle food poverty by selling fresh produce grown in our Aspire Gardens at a heavily subsidised rate.
The shop will trade as a Community Interest Company and any profits will be re-invested in resources for Aspire learners, with a part of this being shared between the college’s nominated charities.
The opening is the culmination of the significant investment (circa £500K) the college has made in the new facility, which has been converted from a conventional house to a purpose-built training hub.
Social Media content creator Jen Graham, better known as Charity Shop Girl, joined staff and students to open the new venture and get the tills ringing. Jen champions the charity shop sector as an ethical way of shopping and because she loves getting a bargain. She will be sharing her “haul” online at Instagram charityshopgirlcsg , as part of the ongoing promotion of the shop.
Recent statistics for adults with a learning disability or autism in paid employment are at 4.8% in England. Demonstrating there are many individuals who can contribute greatly in the workplace, currently denied that opportunity.
Commenting on the opening of the shop, Dudley College’s Vice Principal Diana Martin said: “ As a college committed to ensuring all learners have equality of opportunity, we are excited to be able to open this facility that will provide a training environment for over 200 learners per year. It is also a demonstration of our commitment to promoting sustainability , which we are very proud of as an institution.”
The shop will be open daily during term time at the following times
- Monday 13:00pm-15:00pm
- Tuesday 10.00am-15:00pm
- Wednesday 10.00am -12:00am
- Thursday 10.00am -15:00pm
- Friday 10.00am -15:00pm
