The Change Please experience: a KCCF away day

Brewing the perfect blend and fueling change with each cup of coffee. The KCCF team were delighted to attend an awayday at the Change Please Academy in Peckham to find out about the life changing impact of their barista training programme which is funded by KCCF. 

Founded in 2015, Change Please operates as a fully sustainable social enterprise, reinvesting 100% of its profits back into its barista training programme.  The charity is on a mission to combat homelessness by empowering individuals back into employment by providing them with the skills and resources they need to turn their lives around.  

By turning coffee into a catalyst for social change, the charity continues to redefine and innovate solutions to how organisations can contribute to solving social issues. With each cup of coffee sold, Change Please is not just fueling people’s mornings but also providing a fresh start for those most vulnerable in society with the most need.

The barista training programme provides in-depth knowledge and  insight from espresso production to milk texturing, latte art, beverage production and customer service.  The KCCF team enthusiastically took part in coffee roasting and a condensed version of barista training. The team came away acknowledging that there is so much more science, technical know-how and skill behind the production of a humble cup of coffee! 

Change Please also offers holistic wraparound support to address the challenges that often accompany homelessness. Assistance is provided for housing, mental health, therapy access, financial management, and even help with attending appointments. These services ensure that trainees receive the necessary stability and support to transition successfully into employment. 

The KCCF small grant awarded to Change Please has played a crucial role in providing support for occupational therapy services for individuals enrolled onto the barista training programme.   

Recognising the need for broader outreach, in 2021, Change Please supercharged their model by launching their Driving for Change programme, which delivers vital mobile services to the most vulnerable across 11 locations in London via iconic re-purposed double decker buses.  The buses provide access to NHS and oral healthcare nurses, a hairdresser, social support, digital and financial literacy training and inclusion, financial advice, support with employment.  This is often the gateway of people’s journey out of homelessness by identifying their needs in a welcoming and supportive environment and tailoring support. 

Find out more at Changeplease.org