Imagine seeing a bright pink double-decker bus rolling through London, but it's not a tour bus. It's a mobile dental clinic, and it's bringing free care to people experiencing homelessness. That's just one seriously cool move from Change Please, a coffee company that just won Social Enterprise of the Year.
Based in Peckham, South London, Change Please has been brewing up change for almost 11 years. They train people who've been homeless to become skilled baristas, giving them jobs and a fresh start. And that pink bus? It's part of their 'Smile for Change' partnership with Colgate, offering dental care to those who need it most. Seriously, how clever is that?
Cemal Ezel, the founder, has a knack for teaming up with big names like Virgin and Mastercard. His secret? Focus on what the partner gets out of it. It's a smart way to build a business that does good, without ever losing sight of its mission.
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So far, they've trained 1,167 people. These graduates include refugees, young people leaving care, and ex-prisoners. While not all have slept on the streets, a significant 42% of their trainees have. Beyond the coffee skills, Change Please helps with everything from food and housing to therapy and financial advice. It's a full-circle approach to support.
Winning the UK Social Enterprise of the Year award has opened even more doors. Cemal says other big companies are now reaching out, looking to work with them. Change Please already supplies coffee to places like David Lloyd gyms and Avanti West Coast trains.
Cemal's main advice? "Forget you’re a social enterprise." He means the coffee has to be top-notch first. Most people won't compromise on quality, even for a good cause. Make an amazing product, and the social impact becomes an awesome bonus.
What's next for Change Please? They're even working with the UK government on an AI app to help people experiencing homelessness find support services. It even translates documents into 55 languages. This company isn't just making coffee; they're brewing up some serious innovation.
