Everyday at Unwrapped is a learning day – today our Co-workers have excelled in the kitchen and bested the beans as a barista pro. When you shop at Prospects Unwrapped you pay it forward in real rewards.
And at the end of a busy day Jack’s job list sums it all up perfectly…..
Ely’s first zero waste greengrocery and refill larder, Prospects Trust Unwrapped, made a special top of the class delivery to its friends at Highfield Ely today while on their busy home delivery rounds. Highfield School learners have been part of the social enterprise since it opened last September and the team at Unwrapped wanted to send some treats to their frontline friends.
Prospects Trust Unwrapped had to transform its retail offering practically overnight with the early warnings of Covid-19 and in just once month has turned from a “buy just what you need” busy and bustling shop into a non-contact home delivery service of larder bulk buys. As a registered charity that supports people with additional needs, their mission is #survivetothrive until the time that Unwrapped can reopen and continue to provide innovative social care placements in the shop.
Tom Cockerton, Manager of Prospects Trust Unwrapped said “we have been astounded, and at times overwhelmed, by the swell of customer orders and loyal support to our social enterprise. It helped that for a short while we were the only shop in Ely to have toilet rolls and bread yeast, which we still have in regular supply. Our customers are now making weekly orders of our fruit and veg boxes stocked with seasonal and organic produce as well as their core staples of porridge oats and coffee beans. I like to think in a small way we are not just providing critical groceries we are also keeping in touch with our customer fan base”.
Prospects Trust Unwrapped closed its café and put a temporary halt to training placements at the end of March before the national lock down began as a quick measure to keep everyone safe, especially their Co-worker trainees. Overnight the shop created a basic online delivery form, using the skills of a returning Uni student and harnessing the whole of the small workforce, launched Unwrapped Home Delivery.
Customers can now select all their regular store cupboard basics and get their family’s five-a-day weekly veg & fruit online. The staff team prepare the order and give a phone call to the customer to let them know when to expect a non-contact doorstep delivery. Clare Rees, Unwrapped Support Worker said “we are proud that we can still continue to provide that friendly personal service, something our shielding and vulnerable customers really need in these times.”
Maz Baker, Development Manager for The Prospects Trust said “as a small charity we are facing the hardest of times, as are so many other frontline services and social good causes. Nobody is excluded from the challenges of Covid-19 but as a charity we want to #StrivetoThrive. We felt it was right to reach out to other organisations that are providing frontline care to keyworker children, and, our special friends at Highfield School. The best way to survive is to support each other. We hope that people will continue to support us by shopping with us at Unwrapped”.
The Prospects Trust has launched a charity appeal, #Survive to Thrive to help the 30 year old charity weather the lockdown and be ready for a bumper harvest with the Co-workers (adults with additional needs) once they are safe to return to their day placements at Snakehall Farm, at Unwrapped and on the Garden Team. Donations can be made https://localgiving.org/appeal/survivetothrive/ or via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tilly.tractor/posts/2936117949758755.
Prospects Trust Unwrapped was selected as an Aviva Community Fund good cause before the outbreak of Covid-19 and due to the challenging circumstances, Aviva has extended their Crowdfunding period, donations to support Unwrapped can be made online at: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/refill-not-landfill
We LOVE free help, willingly given and paid back in smiles. Over the 30 years of The Prospects Trust we have received 1000’s of hours of volunteer support, from our Trustee Board to our regular volunteers on Snakehall Farm we couldn’t grow without them. In 2020 we are looking to recruit more volunteers to help us develop our charitable enterprise.
On Monday 10th March from 2:30 to 4:00 pm we will be hosting a drop-in session for prospective volunteers at our new social enterprise, Prospects Trust Unwrapped in Ely (Lynn Road, Ely, CB7 4EG). Meet some of the team, look at the wide range of volunteering opportunities we have or just come to find out more about The Prospects Trust.
Please RSVP your interest at 01638741551, email enquiries@prospectstrust.org.uk or tell our shop staff you are coming!
The variety of volunteering is endless and the returns boundless. To name some opportunities, we are looking for help in the following areas:
Co-worker Companions – at Snakehall Farm or within the Unwrapped Shop – providing a buddy to help with daily tasks.
Guest Blogger – we are looking for some creative types to help produce perfect copy for our newsletters, social media and website. Perhaps you like doing product reviews or telling a story in words or pictures. Join our creative volunteers to tell the story of Unwrapped
Community Fundraisers & Prospects Trust Ambassadors – with a fundraising target of £50K per year, our charity needs people who can spread the word, run a raffle or run a marathon. Help put the FUN into our Fundraising and work with our Development Manager to raise the £s this year.
Corporate Social Responsibility Giving Back Days – with 18 acres at our disposal we can offer a real difference to a business away day. Ditch the raft building team building sessions and get digging at Snakehall Farm.
Come help us Grow Differently at The Prospects Trust!
Well it has only been a month! We opened Prospects Trust Unwrapped, our new Ely GREENgrocery in September and we have already grown so busy we need a part time Barista to keep the Hot Numbers coffee flowing. Head over to our https://prospectstrust.org.uk/vacancies/ page for all the details.
After almost a year in the planning, months in the funding and practically weeks in the shop fitting we are almost ready* to turn the key to the door of Prospects Trust Unwrapped! *who are we kidding we shall never be ready but we are very eager.
The Grand Opening Ceremony will take place at Unwrapped HQ, 13 Lynn Road, Ely, Cambs CB7 4EG from 11 for a VIP key turn at 11:30 am. You can rsvp a place on our Facebook Events page: https://www.facebook.com/events/947315945617658/
With just two more sleeps to our grand opening we are still looking for local support with our Crowdfunding appeal: https://chuffed.org/project/unwrap-prospects-trust-unwrapped-fill-the-refill-stock-the-shop or donations can be made through our localgiving page: localgiving.org/charity/prospectstrustatsnakehallfarm/project/unwrapthesstock/
Thank you to all those who have already donated, volunteered or supported this exciting new venture, we could not have done this without your help. Team Prospects Unwrapped!
An amazing eco-event comes to Ely! The first opportunity to showcase our new shop (minus our produce but lots of pop up stalls and clothes rails instead). This is a fabulous community collaboration with our new friends at EcoEly, Ely Swish and Spotted in Ely. Come for a wardrobe refresh that won’t break your bank balance nor the environment, grab the next size up to make room for delicious cake and slurp a cuppa while chatting to our local producers, awareness raisers and the team members behind the event!
Book your Swish Ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-green-swish-tickets-64422541556
Prospects Trust Unwrapped hasn’t yet swung open its doors for trading but we are looking forward to a few pop-up fundraising events in our new shop space. Our second fundraising event is our Pre-loved Toy Sale. We are taking over the Lighthouse Community Room just in time for the school summer holidays. You can clear out the toy cupboards & children’s book shelves and replenish with new to them (but preloved before). Either book a sellers pitch with a £5 donation towards Prospects Trust (Reg. Charity No 1048584/Co. Ltd by Guarantee 3087221) or attend the event as a buyer, remember to bring your bags & boxes! There will be refreshments on sale and you will get an opportunity to take an early sneaky peak at the new shop.
Prospects Unwrapped’s Toy Sale will be held at Lighthouse Ely, 13 Lynn Road, Ely CB7 4EG. Click here for “Where to Park” and to find details of this event on Facebook: Facebook Event – Toy Sale and Insta
Prospects Trust Trainee Placements are now available, starting from September 2019, we are bringing a new way to learn on to the high street of Ely. We are looking to recruit 20 new Co-worker Trainees to be our first cohort to gain accredited qualifications in retail and food safety.
Take a look at our flexible training programme, with 2 day placements starting from £50 per week. Download our Placement Pack or contact us on 01638 741551 for more information.
