Co-op looks to offer opportunities

Co-op looks to offer opportunities

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/102382379.html

A group of Cedar families is brewing up new opportunities for their children.




The families plan to start a coffee shop on Cedar Road through the Cedar Opportunities Co-operative, to give their children with developmental disabilities employment and socialization opportunities closer to home.



The coffee shop will employ children, trained workers to support the disabled employees and other workers.



The co-op was created about four years ago as a result of discussions five families had during picnics and other social occasions, said Sandra Marquis, co-op president.



Frustrated by the lack of gathering places, programs or jobs for their children in the Cedar area – the children were reliant on parents to drive them to Ladysmith or Nanaimo – the families decided to take matters into their own hands.



“After school is done, there’s no opportunities in Cedar to socially interact with people,” said Marquis. “And you can’t get anywhere unless someone drives you there.”



Once the group decided a coffee shop was the best type of business to introduce to the area, Marquis took time off work to attend a business planning course offered through Community Futures.



The co-op secured a $950 grant from the B.C. Co-operative Association, which helped them access information about incorporating a co-op and a $30,000 grant from the federal Co-operatives Secretariat to hire people to help them with a business plan and marketing.



A location was identified – space in Cedar Village Centre on Cedar Road – and seven people with developmental disabilities, ranging in ages from 16-30, want to work there, including Marquis’s 25-year-old daughter Camille, who is eager for the opportunity to make new friends.



Now the group is fundraising for startup costs.



The lease, equipment and renovations are expected to cost $90,000 and the group has raised $60,000 so far through donations from each of the founding families, selling memberships and a $2,000 grant from Mid Island Co-op.



The group hopes to finalize the lease arrangements in the coming weeks and open for business in early 2011.



“People have been very supportive,” said Marquis. “This is a really innovative and unique business, there isn’t really anything like us across Canada.”



The public can help by becoming a member for $100, volunteering labour or donating the equipment needed to make coffee drinks, soups, sandwiches and baked goodies.



For more information or to become a member, please go to www.cedaropportunities.coop or e-mail ask_us@cedaropportunities.coop.