About The Emily Jordan Foundation Projects
The Emily Jordan Foundation Projects is the new sister charity of The Emily Jordan Foundation, based in Kidderminster. This Charity was started in 2008 after Chris and Sarah Jordan’s daughter, Emily, died in New Zealand. They were already involved in the Learning Disability sector, as having a son with moderate learning disabilities they were well aware of the challenges this group face. Chris had set up a bike project, Spokes CIC in 2004 to enable this group to learn new skills.
After Emily’s death the family, friends, and many volunteers raised funds to buy premises in Kidderminster, to carry on this development and start other similar projects. This was achieved in 2010.
The Foundation has grown to encompass four primary projects;
Spokes
The bike project, where second hand donated bikes are rebuilt by people with Learning Disabilities for sale to the public. Also repair and servicing work is carried out.
Go Green
The recycling project for people with more complex LD needs. They enjoy a great days activities, such as recycling, working with clay, arts and crafts work, etc. They are also involved in light manufacturing projects.
Twigs
The horticultural project, where people with learning disabilities learn about growing plants and working with the public. They are involved in all areas of the business.
Woodworks, where wood products, such as bird boxes, benches, flower troughs and many other items are made. The people with learning disabilities who come to this learn woodworking and business skills.
The Foundation supports nearly 60 people with learning disabilities, who all enjoy doing productive tasks.
Work Projects
A primary aim is to develop employment opportunities wherever possible to people with disabilities by obtaining local contracts for work, such as ground maintenance, etc. This allows people with moderate learning disabilities to contribute to society - it is only right that this group is given the same opportunity as everyone else.
In 2021 the Foundation launched The Emily Jordan Foundation Projects. This development will bring new opportunities and support to people with learning disabilities, who live in the Black Country, using the same projects that have been so successful over the past 13 years at Kidderminster.
About Stevens Park
Working with Dudley Council, £1.8million (£1.4 million from The National Lottery and £400,000 from Dudley Council) has been secured, which has been spent on the park itself and also a complete refurbishment of Tintern House, an old Victorian House on the park that has stood derelict for over 40 years. Now completely renovated, it is home to two of our projects, Go Green (recycling and light assembly work) and Spokes (bicycle repair and refurbishment). Also a new space for our horticulture projects, Twigs, has been created in the Park area.
As in Kidderminster, within these projects trainees learn work-based skills to build their confidence. Our aim is to support people to learn the skills required to enable those that can to enter some type of employment in the future, for the benefit of them and society.
The aim of the charity remains the same:
“To support people with learning disabilities to lead fulfilled lives”
Working within the community
Again, replicating our proven Kidderminster model, we will aiming to grow work based projects within the community, to enable people with moderate learning disabilities to earn some money. We have proved that this works - we have projects involving ground maintenance at several sites in the Kidderminster area with well known companies, including Severn Trent and also run light manufacturing projects for local businesses. This enables us to be able to pay our people with moderate learning disabilities from the money we get for the contracts, changing their lives and improving their self esteem enormously.
