Target reached!
Renovate the basement to become therapy rooms with showers. This will require full t...
Yoga studio & wholefood cafe in Ramsgate
Ramsgate, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Help us to bring Union to Ramsgate! A collectively run wellbeing studio & cafe.
Help us to bring Union to our hometown of Ramsgate
Hello! We're Union. A yoga & wellbeing studio in Margate. We have launched our crowdfunding campaign to help raise money to bring Union to our home town of Ramsgate, where we will be opening a purpose built well being centre & wholefood cafe in the big bright and beautiful old Homebasics store.
Since we opened our doors in 2017 we've held over 4000 yoga & mindful movement classes, and hundreds of creative events and workshops with mind - body health and healing at their heart. As well as daily yoga classes with our team of highly skilled teachers, over the years we've held life drawing classes, singing groups, death cafes, dance classes, meditation workshops, soundbaths, women's circles and more. We have always been passionate about being a place where people come together through a shared interest or passion, and that's why we're called 'Union'
Now that we've outgrown our Margate studio it's time to move somewhere bigger where we can slowly grow and settle into serving our community over the years to come. It was a no-brainer that our next space would be in Ramsgate, and after two years of searching we've finally found our new yoga home.
(The beautiful old Homebasics store on Ramsgate's Queen Street)
(Illustration of the yoga & movement studio/events space. Credit - Sean Riddington, Co-Founder of Union)
Union Ramsgate is taking over the old home basics store in Ramsgate's Queen Street. With views looking out to the tree lined York Street and down to the harbour, Union will be a wellbeing space and cafe serving wholesome, delicious food and drink thats good for you and good for the planet (without costing the earth!)
Whether you want to get cosy in our cafe and eat your way through our delicious menu of veggie/vegan food, or grab a healthy smoothie on your way out of one of our yoga classes or workshops led by Kent's best teachers (we're biased, of course!) we will be a place where people come to spend some time and forget about the world for a while. With comfy seating, soft lighting and friendly laid back staff who love what they do, Union will be a place where you can forget about your day and dedicate some precious time to invest in your health and happiness.
O ur yoga & well-being studio will hold over 30 classes a week with options to drop in for a class or sign up to our class passes at a discounted price. We are proud to work with some of Thanet's most experienced teachers, and on top of that they just so happen to be a lovely down to earth bunch of humans too. Combined, we have over 100 years of teaching experience, and thousands of hours of training under our belts. We offer a variety of different styles of yoga & movement classes that are open to all levels, including complete beginners, so whether you want to get a full body workout or rest and relax for an hour, we have something for you.
We've got the building, we've drawn up the plans, now we need to get to work. Ready to roll your sleeves up with us and make this happen?
About us
Amie (founder of Union)
Amie built Union on a shoestring budget and a whole lot of graft (thank goodness for those strong yoga arms!) The space went from a dingy and derelict office waiting room to a buzzing full time studio that has held yoga and movement classes to thousands of people led by a tribe of Kent’s best teachers. Alongside this, Union has been the home to four sold-out Yoga Teacher Training programs held with her friend and senior teacher David Michel and too many wonderful workshops and wellbeing events to mention.
(Amie - founder of Union, with David Michel - lead teacher trainer... and Frank - the anatomy skeleton)
Since she began teaching in her twenties, Amie has always been exploring ways of better serving her community, and getting as many people trying yoga as possible. She’s had the privilege of teaching yoga in care homes, sports centres, living rooms, mental health charities, specialist schools, and some really wonderful yoga studios. Amie strongly believes that the benefits of yoga are endless, and you do not need to be able to touch your toes to reap the life changing rewards that yoga can have on mind, body and spirit. Furthermore, Amie always has (and always will) offer concessions to those who do not have the disposable income for yoga and is proud to offer 20% off all memberships and classes to carers & public sector workers.
‘’Union yoga studio is my happy place... Amie was instantly my favourite yoga teacher since my first class with her years ago, her passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning yoga are inspiring and infectious! At Union, Amie has collated a bunch of fabulous teachers who share her ethos but all have their own individuality, so I know I’m in for a treat no matter which class I choose. Whether you're new to the mat or a seasoned yogi, there’s something for everyone at Union!’’ - Kathy, owner of the Grain Grocer, Cliftonville.
(Our Margate studio)
Jen & Alex (the brains behind the cafe)
Jen and Alex are skilled and passionate cooks currently working at two of Thanet’s most loved restaurants. Jen has worked in several eateries specialising in vegetarian food, alongside a project which focuses on training people with autism to become chefs. In more recent years they have catered for yoga retreats in the UK and France. Alex’s cooking career began in Whitstable, working for the Whitstable Oyster Company as a farmer and chef. More recently he has cooked in bistros, Japanese fine dining and catered private functions with seasonal vegetarian and vegan menus.
We will be employing full time and part time cafe staff and expanding our team.
(Sample dishes from our menu)
‘’Our aim is to make tasty food, healthy for people, planet and wallet, whilst supporting small scale local food producers and businesses, more crucial in these times than ever. ‘’
(Our sample menu)
The Yoga & Movement Space
Our Ramsgate Yoga studio will run classes throughout the week with our team of highly skilled teachers. We’re proud to be South-East Kent's first Yoga Alliance Teacher Training School and we’re quickly becoming Kent’s most highly regarded school for training teachers.
Union is a place for people to come together whether that's through yoga or not! That's why we plan to hold dance classes, drawing classes, community choir, craft workshops, book clubs, supper clubs, exhibitions, flower arranging, scent making, film screenings and spoken word nights... the list goes on (and we’re open to suggestions!)
We are a group of experienced and passionate teachers with over 100 years and thousands of hours of teaching under our belts combined. We live and breathe what we do, we work hard and are committed to sharing the life changing benefits of a yoga practice with anybody willing to give it a try.
By funding this project you will become a part of the Union family, and play a vital role in helping us turn our dream into a reality.
(The yoga studio/events space studio as it stands now)
(The proposed plans for the studio/events space and cafe)
The Cafe
We want to show the world that veggie food can be delicious, satisfying, simple, and indulgent without it costing the earth.
(Illustration of the cafe. Credit - Sean Riddington, Co-Founder of Union)
Food is one of the most common ways in which people come together, and our cafe is going to be a warm, comfortable and welcoming place for our customers to come and enjoy time with friends, family, or alone with a good book.
Our cafe will be open daily, serving up a hearty, wholesome vegetarian food that's good for you and good for the planet.
We will be cooking up a storm using locally sourced ingredients and working closely with their suppliers so that you know that everything you eat and drink has been brought to you through fair trade and treatment of its workers, with minimal impact on our precious planet.
Whether you’re popping out on your lunch break and need something quick and satisfying to take away, or you want to stay a little longer and enjoy a hot coffee and wholesome breakfast whilst watching the world go by, we have something for everyone. We are committed to keeping our prices fair, and our food simple, delicious and nourishing.
(This will be the cafe)
Our Ethos
- We run a means tested membership system whereby people on low incomes are entitled to a subsidised membership
- Our cafe will minimise food waste and be committed to serving our community by having a daily window where food prices are dropped. At the end of each day we will donate all of our food to our local homeless shelters
- We always have and always will offer 20% off all our yoga classes and memberships for carers and public sector workers
- We are here to serve our community, and will always listen to feedback from our customers to help us do better
- We are an inclusive, friendly business with a passion for bringing people together through our shared interest and passion
Want to support us?
We need to raise money to help us complete the work needed to open our doors in the new year. We have put our savings and taken out loans (difficult in these times) to secure the building, pay the solicitors and various other parties to secure the lease but now we need your help to create something truly special.
To be able to open to the public with the basic necessities, we need to purchase and fit the following;
- Boiler/heating
- W/C facilities
- Cafe kitchen including equipment
- New flooring throughout
- Electrical fit-out including new lighting
- Dividing walls to form the yoga studio
- Furniture (because Amie is the only one who likes eating on the floor)
- Fire, smoke and basic alarm systems
We will be undertaking as much of the work as we can ourselves but we need around £25,000 to build the bare bones of the space and are aiming to raise at least £15000 through crowdfunding.
If we’re lucky enough to raise more than our pledge, it will go towards turning our huge basement into a second movement studio, showers and therapy rooms.
Whether it’s £5 or £5000, every contribution will help towards reaching our dream.
Rewards
Tote bags
Designed exclusively for Union by Jenny Boat (@jennyboatdraws). Ethically sourced materials, printed and sewn in the UK on high quality heavyweight cotton.
Gift Vouchers
A multitude of class passes, gift vouchers and tokens are all available for purchase - delivery available for Christmas on request.
Limited Edition Prints
We have 12 one-off prints by the renowned artist Margo McDaid, also known as Margo in Margate exclusive to Union. Delivery available for Christmas on request. If you have a particular favourite let us know and we'll reserve it for you.
'Tree Pose' Original drawing and watercolour by Rosaleen Manklow (below)
Mini Print by Charlotte Evaristo
Risks
Lets face it, we are living in a risky climate and Covid is still lurking. We have however seen many friends and fellow businesses show incredible resilience and perseverance in adapting to new ways of thriving. We as a business have managed to keep paying our teachers, keep paying our overheads and still stay in afloat over the past 7 months thanks to our dedicated students, hard working teachers and the weird world of online yoga which, in all honesty, has taken a while to get used to. If lockdown hits again we enact plan B in which our classes will be live-streamed and our cafe will be ready to switch from sit-in & takeaway to home delivery and make at home meal kits.
There is also the risk that we simply will not meet enough demand to cover our overheads in the first few months, so we have made sure to include losses in our 12 month forecast. We are very lucky in that we have already been running our business for 4 years, and we have learned some hard and humbling lessons on the way that have made us more aware and more resilient.
The last and most IMPORTANT risk is not being able to raise the funds we need to open our doors. That is where we need YOU! Every penny counts, and if you can't afford to donate, please share this page with everyone you know who might be interested. Money is one thing, but of equal importance is raising awareness of who we are and what we are about.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our pledge.
Further notes
Thank you to my landlord for all of his support and passion for his home town of Ramsgate & thank you to everyone who has shared the most beautiful and heartwarming stories of childhood memories of visiting the Homebasics store.
Here are some kind words from one;
‘’I have lived in Thanet for my whole life and I grew up with Home Basics as a constant feature of the Ramsgate economy, but it was more than that. You were always greeted with a friendly smile, I remember knowing I could go in there if I ever felt nervous or scared as a teenager because it was our family meeting point as we were give a little more independence on shopping trips. The owners always had a welcoming smile and would chat away. Union will continue that friendly and nurturing legacy. It will be a safe place for people to go - to meet new people to fight the awful isolation Covid has left us with; to experience new activities; have a cup of coffee or exercise. Union is exactly as it says - it unites people and will ‘basically” be the new ‘home’ for Ramsgate and Thanet residents and visitors to enjoy; a hearth to be warm at and a hub to feel united in. Amie and the Union team are the perfect people for the task and I cannot wait to step foot over the threshold.‘’
Additional ways of supporting us
Share our crowdfunding page www.crowdfunder.co.uk/union-ramsgate
Share our stories and posts on Instagram @unionyogamargate / @unionramsgate
Thanks again for taking the time to read our pledge :)
This project successfully funded on 17th December 2020