Autistic boy's Tea Company Empowering disabilities
Donation protected
My son Austen is 8 and has autism, so do I and so does his brother Tristan who is 9. For the past two years Austen has had two passions Tea and helping people. Austen has been on various tea blending workshops and is a dab hand at creating custom blends for us.
About a year ago on hearing that people Autistic people struggle to get into employment (only 16% being in full time work) he asked me why it was so hard for us. All I could say to him was that employers often judge people on how they seem in a one hour interview, not how well they can do the job. After telling me this was "stupid" he decided that he wanted to create a business selling his own blends of tea, but more importantly employing those with difficulties such as Autism and Down syndrome.
I couldn't believe my 7, now 8 year old could be so thoughtful, but his desire to do this is absolute. So, for the past year I have been working on how to do this and we are now at a stage where we have a supplier, website and are registered as a CIC (community interest company) Non-Profit. This kickstarter appeal will allow us to take this idea further by opening an upmarket tea bar.
This Tea bar will be a fully inclusive place, that removes all the barriers and destigmatises those with disabilities, allowing them to prove themselves within a business setting.
Each Employee will be trained in all aspects of hospitality, money management and will be offered college courses and tea sommelier training. Once trained they will create their own blend and this will be for sale within the store and online.
We have a company called Pure innovation who are a learning difficulties employment agency with staff waiting to start.
Austen is a fun, sweet young man, with a dream to start a non-profit tea business. In doing so, we'd be able to change the lives of people living with cognitive disabilities. Please consider us. You'd make an 8 year old's dream come true.
About a year ago on hearing that people Autistic people struggle to get into employment (only 16% being in full time work) he asked me why it was so hard for us. All I could say to him was that employers often judge people on how they seem in a one hour interview, not how well they can do the job. After telling me this was "stupid" he decided that he wanted to create a business selling his own blends of tea, but more importantly employing those with difficulties such as Autism and Down syndrome.
I couldn't believe my 7, now 8 year old could be so thoughtful, but his desire to do this is absolute. So, for the past year I have been working on how to do this and we are now at a stage where we have a supplier, website and are registered as a CIC (community interest company) Non-Profit. This kickstarter appeal will allow us to take this idea further by opening an upmarket tea bar.
This Tea bar will be a fully inclusive place, that removes all the barriers and destigmatises those with disabilities, allowing them to prove themselves within a business setting.
Each Employee will be trained in all aspects of hospitality, money management and will be offered college courses and tea sommelier training. Once trained they will create their own blend and this will be for sale within the store and online.
We have a company called Pure innovation who are a learning difficulties employment agency with staff waiting to start.
Austen is a fun, sweet young man, with a dream to start a non-profit tea business. In doing so, we'd be able to change the lives of people living with cognitive disabilities. Please consider us. You'd make an 8 year old's dream come true.
Organizer
Simon Usher
Organizer
England