About GRoW
GROW, started in 2008, is a part of the Grassmarket Community Project. The workshops are open across 5 days a week and have about 10 regular volunteers on each day. They transform unwanted church pews and textiles into beautiful, bespoke pieces of furniture and home furnishings. Learners work under the supervision of Tommy Steel and Pat Laing. GROW is on track to become a self- sustaining Social Enterprise that does not require outside funding.
The business proposition is this:
Supply of raw materials: The associated church links provides a good and long-term supply of church pews and furniture – high quality wood
Enterprise workforce: For decades past the Kirkhouse has been a social centre and alms house for the city centre homeless and others who have resettled but are in need of company and occupation. Although some would be unable to hold down a paid job, pilot activities and consultations have demonstrated that quite a few Kirkhouse clients are ready, willing and able to contribute at some level to a workforce. Supervision, wood craft and textiles expertise as well as project management are all essential and this has been supplied by a range of funders to date.
Products: With an emphasis on quality, we have developed a range of products that sell exceptionally well. The range is designed to be commercial but also to offer sufficient and achievable tasks for trainees. Over 2011/12 the new Greyfriars Tartan range is being developed in partnership with local crafts people to add additional value to the items.
Ambition: The intention is to ‘grow’ during the next year, while the new facility is being constructed; we will be ready to move into the new premises as a well established social business providing 2 kinds of outcome: profit for re-investment and clear social benefit for the trainees.
Grow is a social enterprise incorporating several new mini-businesses being planned or established as part of Grassmarket Community Project (GCP) in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh’s Old Town, planned to provide work, training and enhanced life opportunities for people who have had long term homelessness and dependency problems.
