Aviva Community Fund has provided £1,429 of match funding
Willow Tree Stores - Enabling the High St
Gorleston, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Willow Tree Stores will be run by people with all sorts of disabilities to sell the items they craft, upcycle and recycle to the community.
Willow Tree started on 14th May 2009 in an unloved shrub area in Belton. Naomi (our inspiration) was due to leave a very special school in Caister, where she had been nurtured and educated for 19 years and the potential of things for her to do were bleak. So we decided to start a project called Willow Tree Garden http://willowtreegarden.cfsites.org/index.php and the story of Willow Tree Garden can be seen on the website. We realised that although the garden was beautiful we needed a more accessible site and so we obtained a very sad piece of land in the heart of Great Yarmouth and as it was the old waterworks site, we named it Willow Tree Works http://willowtreeworks.cfsites.org/index.php . Here the learners craft, upcycle and recycle and we realised we needed an outlet to sell their goods. So we can up with the idea of Willow Tree Stores, enabling the High St. Willow Tree Stores will be an accessible shop run by the learners for the community. The learners will be able to use the transferable skills they gain at Willow Tree sites and learn so many more by supporting customers in a positive shopping experience. We will be able to offer work experience for young people with additional needs and a step up for those considering furthering their education or entering the workplace. Willow Tree is all about the learners doing it for themselves together! The picture is of the shop we are taking over in Gorleston High St.
This project successfully funded on 7th October 2020