We were delighted to support the Petty Pool Trust with a grant towards its new coffee cart – an initiative that not only brews great coffee but, more importantly, creates valuable opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Established by the Petty Pool Trust in 2024, The Ground Up Project is a community interest company dedicated to helping neurodivergent young people develop skills, build independence and secure meaningful employment in the hospitality sector. The organisation opened its first café in Ellesmere Port in 2024 and, a year later, launched the Ground Up & Go coffee cart.
Since its launch, the mobile coffee cart has served customers at a variety of community and corporate events, including the prestigious Lord’s Taverners Charity Lunch, Topsy Turvy Festival and Cuddington Farm Artisan Market.
Our funding helped refurbish the cart, transforming it into a professional and fully functional mobile catering unit.
The impact of this investment reaches far beyond the coffee cart itself. Income generated through Ground Up & Go helps fund the wider work of The Ground Up Project, enabling even more young people to access meaningful employment opportunities and develop essential workplace skills.
As a result, 10 young people from Petty Pool College have completed work placements with Ground Up, alongside two neurodivergent volunteers who have gained valuable workplace experience and confidence. Through these opportunities, participants have developed practical skills including customer service, cash handling and effective communication in real-world settings.
Sally Garratt, CEO of Petty Pool and Director of The Ground Up Project said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Chester Bluecoat Charity for their generous support, enabling the wheels to move into motion for Ground Up and Go! The Ground Up & Go coffee cart has already made a significant difference to the lives of many young people, providing meaningful opportunities to develop skills, confidence and independence, and crucially, hospitality skills. The grant has not only helped us create a new training environment but has also enabled us to generate income that supports even more young people into work placements and volunteering opportunities. Thank you for helping us create lasting impact in our community.”
