In terms of community interest, they don't have to offer space for community businesses, they qualify as a CIC as it is in the interests of the local community/they're working to benefit local community - the people and by extension, families, accessing the centre. For what it's worth I think it makes sense to have a space for hire as that will help diversify income, providing their behaviour doesn't put professionals off from hiring the space.Me evidently, nothing new there
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The womenās centre looks to me like a drop in cafe for women. I think given the size and what theyāve done with the set up, that back room is for people in the community (therapists etc,) to rent out to see clients in. The rest of it is a coffee shop where women can go to get a drink and advice. So I expect Emily will be doing a lot of signposting women where to go if they do need proper help. I know they said they were planning to do freedom project workshops but I canāt see it being on a grand scale as there really isnāt enough space. I think it will be coffee, cake, a bit of shoulder to cry on and then passing out leaflets/ websites etc so that the women can access the correct help. The washer & drier, I suppose could help local homeless people clean up maybe??? Iām not sure what the homeless situation is in the area, but that makes sense to me.
The room at the back covers the community interest part of the CIC as sheās hoping the community will use it. Any money she makes of coffee and cake will be minuscule anyway. Setting it up as a CIC means that she can fundraise if they run low on cash for the staff AND she can also apply for grants etc if she wants to expand. I think the remaining PayPal Direct Debits that people still pay probably covers PA Jo & Emilyās wage. The people who still donate to that canāt be helped. If they canāt see something off now, they never will.
Looking at the expense sheās gone to with the refurb of the place, I think sheās possibly paid for a bit herself. It looks like itās haemorrhaging money already. I donāt think any of the women are business savvy, but thatās where Jordan and Ceri come in. They are trying to build entrepreneurially. I think Rach will just try to follow them.
At first the womenās centre concerned me, but I donāt think she will have access to peoples notes or situations, unless they give her it. Thereās nothing anyone can do to stop that, itās on the person involved. However, I think she will find out quite quickly that itās more problematic/ hard work than she has thought. She shouldāve opened a florist or something
I know it seems serious, but I really think itās much ado about not much. Like the book. Not many sales, off into oblivion.
At this point Iām only here to see how long it takes her to realise why after this little bit of success, sheās still waking up unhappy. Iām hoping itās sooner rather than later
I also wonder if they've adequately assessed the risk they're putting themselves in - if someone comes even just for a coffee and some cake and a chat, as others have said... if an abuser finds out, they could turn up at the centre. How would they deal with that!? Do they have a panic button?
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perfect dress Iād say.
I do believe I am an ex hun. I'm local-ish to her, so have always followed with an interest to them visiting the same sort of places I do with my family, but actually they don't visit places as a family, do they?!
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