Community Business Journeys: Gipton

Waymarking has been working with staff at Space2 from 2017 to the current date, to inspire this arts, health, wellbeing and community development-focussed organisation, who are based in Gipton in Leeds, to investigate the potential value of Neighbourhood Economic Resilience activity for social, economic and environmental resilience and change. This work has included supporting staff to work with local resident volunteers to transition their community projects’ People’s Pantry and The Clothing Rebellion into Community Businesses.

 

Gipton Community Business Journeys (2021) was a programme of staff and participant training, consultancy and evaluation led by Waymarking. Through the year, nine key local resident volunteers and three key Space2 staff has worked together to deeply consider shifting the two community projects into two new Community Businesses, each with a clear social purpose, holding Pop Up shop events weekly at The Old Fire Station, Leeds. This included study visits to Pre-Loved at 45 Community Shop in Braunstone, Leicester – supported by B-Inspired and Centre4 in Grimsby.

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In 2022, Waymarking continued to support staff and volunteers in their journey towards setting up two community businesses.

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Image credits: Sarah Spanton (1-4), The Old Fire Station (5)