Nickel Support CIC, which offers employment support opportunities for people with learning disabilities, has received £35K in investment from Big Issue Invest, the investment arm of The Big Issue.
Nickel Support is a community interest company supporting neurodivergent adults and adults with learning disabilities. The organisation has a simple vision, to ensure every trainee they support leads a more fulfilled and purposeful life. Employment is a key focus, but the organisation supports trainees in all aspects of their lives.
Over the years, the organisation has grown substantially. As of today, it employs over 30 people and works with over 100 trainees per week. The current hub is at the top of its capacity and the demand for Nickel services has not stopped growing, with a current waiting list of over 30 people.
This has led the organisation to look for a second hub in Cheam, which has recently been secured. The investment from Big Issue Invest will help Nickel to refurbish and equip this new premises.
The aim for the Cheam Hub is to replicate what the organisation have built at the Carshalton branch. They are looking to sensitively refurbish the building, bringing and enhancing the existing features to have the same feel as the current studio and hub – which is set over four floors and is fully wheelchair accessible.
There is a fitted kitchen on the top floor that allows trainees to spend more time developing food products that are tested and commercialised, whilst on the first floor the upcyclers enjoy the light and spacious workshop working on products that will be sold on “Interestingly Different”. The different business streams have flourished, with wonderful new products being developed on the ground floor.