Kibble Admin

We caught up with Karen Gilligan, Manager at Oskars, to find out more about the social enterprise and the services it provides:

What does your business do?
Opened in 2010, Oskars is a social enterprise based in the heart of Paisley that provides a range of second-hand furniture, white goods, and other household items at affordable prices. Our services also include; painting and decorating, gardening, bulk uplift services, and home and office clearances.

As a social enterprise, Oskars is a business that supports those on low incomes by providing low cost, clean, safe, donated furniture. In addition, we offer youth employment, education and skills training to young people furthest removed from the job market, helping open up greater employment opportunities.

Located at 55 Clark Street, Paisley, Oskars is open to the public and provides an eclectic mix of preloved sofas, bedroom furniture, dining tables and chairs, wardrobes, vintage furniture, shabby chic items and more – ideal for upcycling projects. Selling quality items at affordable prices, Oskars is perfect if you’re looking to update your home on a budget, or on a low income.

In partnership with Zero Waste Scotland we offer free upcycling workshops to local residents.  Workshops can take place either at a community group meeting or in Oskars showroom in Paisley. For customers referred to Oskars from housing organisations or local authorities, we can provide generously discounted prices.

We employ young people who face barriers to employment.  They spend six months with us in a real job environment. Training is provided and support is given to find full-time permanent positions at the end of the six month period.  City & Guilds and SVQ qualifications can be worked towards together with Fork Lift Truck training.  To date we have successfully supported over 30 young people into full-time permanent jobs.

We work to a triple bottom line of ‘planet, people and prosperity’.

What are you most proud of when it comes to Oskars?
I am most proud of the young people that we work with who come to us labelled as ‘furthest from the job market’.  Those young people who are willing to work hard and undertake training can turn their lives around as our aim is to offer six months of real life work experience, and support our trainees into mainstream employment.  Our team leaders do this by role modelling, training, coaching and nurturing.  We have had success in this area and the majority of our trainees come back to visit us to let us know how they are getting on.

What do you find most enjoyable in day-to-day business life?
I enjoy seeing the wide variety of items that come into the showroom on a daily basis.  We cannot predict what furniture we will have in stock at any given time.  I also enjoy the fact that we respond to need.  We work two weeks ahead in our planning of jobs but are proud that we have a reputation for reacting quickly to opportunities that arise and carry out jobs in an efficient and timely manner.  This is only possible with the flexibility of our wonderful staff team.

What are your ambitions for the future?
To develop our goods and services so that we can assist more young people into work, support those wishing to make a house a home which has shown to be a major factor in sustaining tenancies and protect our local environment by sending less to landfill.

How has the business changed over the years?
The business has developed over the years as we initially started out as simply a furniture reuse organisation.  However it soon became clear that there was a demand for other services and we responded to this by providing painting and decorating, gardening and the clearing out and cleaning of void properties.

What are your top three priorities?
1.      To provide employment and training to young people aged 16-29
2.      To offer quality furniture and services to householders and
organisations
3.      To expand what we do

Can you offer three tips to new-start businesses?
1.      Believe in yourself, your staff and what you are setting out to do
2.      Take advice from others who have previously worked in the
sector
3.      Work your socks off to make it a success

Why is Renfrewshire a great place to run a business?
It’s a great time to be working in the Renfrewshire area with talk of the regeneration of the town centre and all the excitement around the Paisley 2021 bid.  There is a plethora of fantastic community groups in Renfrewshire that we have worked with and supported in the past and hope to continue doing this in the future.

Has anything weird or wonderful happened in your working life?
One of the most wonderful things that happened to us was back in 2011 when we had an impromptu visit from Robin Gibb when he was in Paisley with the research team from the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?  He spent some time talking to our young trainees and asked a lot of questions about what we were doing and what we wanted to achieve.   Those of us who grew up listening to the Bee Gees, (the older members of staff), were overawed!

What is the main thing you have learned since being involved with Oskars?
The main thing I have learned is that you have to work hard to achieve success but in the words of Simon Sinek, the leadership and management author, “working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.”

THE Presiding Officer of The Scottish Parliament Ken Macintosh MSP took time last week to see how Kibble’s social enterprise OSKARS is giving new life to old furniture. Mr Macintosh was visiting the OSKARS showroom in Clark Street, where he also heard about work and training opportunities for local youngsters.

Starting in 2010, OSKARS refurbishes and resells household items at an affordable cost through a process known as ‘upcycling’. As a social enterprise, the money from every sale is reinvested back into the business and aims to stop as much furniture as possible being sent to landfill.

Ken Macintosh MSP said:

“I am delighted to have had the chance to see first-hand some of the work that OSKARS does locally. It was humbling to hear one of the trainees, Ryan, tell me about no matter how hard he tried, no one was willing to give him a chance to prove himself in the workplace until he started in OSKARS.

“It is a very simple idea but also very effective. We can stop unnecessary waste going to landfill and support training and work opportunities for young people in Renfrewshire.

“The scale and the scope of work is impressive and I know that both OSKARS, and trainees like Ryan, will continue to flourish.”

Karen Gilligan, Manager at OSKARS, said:

“I appreciate Ken taking the time to visit our showroom and to see some of the exciting work going on here.

“We are aiming to provide as many training opportunities as possible for local young people and our range of services now include painting and decorating, gardening, bulk uplift services, and home and office clearances.

“Our young people work incredibly hard every day to be ready for the world of work. The skills they gain here help them achieve that goal.”

OSKARS, part of KibbleWorks, provides training and employment opportunities open to 16-24 year olds who are currently unemployed. There are also opportunities specifically for those who have care experience. For more information about these opportunities, or to find out more about the services OSKARS provide, contact us on 0141 847 6626 or visit our website.

A psychologist working in Kibble will be given the chance to learn about ground breaking techniques being used to help vulnerable young people across the world.  Senior Forensic Psychologist Dan Johnson will travel to America and Scandinavia thanks to the support of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

The Trust, first established in 1965, awards Fellowships to over 100 British citizens every year. The ‘Fellows’ are selected due to their vision and motivation to improve their profession and are given financial support to travel and share best practice from across the globe.

Dan Johnson said:

“This will be a great chance for Kibble to expand its learning from experts and practitioners across the world. For example, in America there is a long history of study into childhood trauma and creating new ways to help those who have had adverse experiences as a young person.

“In Scandinavia there are government schemes that put added resources into young people compared with the UK. It will be interesting to see what knowledge can be applied here in Scotland to help our vulnerable young people.

“Young people who have experienced adversity and trauma have some of the greatest difficulties, my hope is that by taking this journey we will be able to learn new effective ways to help them.”

The original Winston Churchill Memorial Trust endowment of £2.75m was raised from a public appeal by the Duke of Edinburgh to create a legacy for Britain’s war time Prime Minister and would be worth over £50m in today’s money. Their motto ‘travel to learn, return to inspire’ has extra significance for Kibble.

Chief Executive of Kibble Education and Care Centre Graham Bell said:

“We are delighted that Dan has achieved this Fellowship, and look forward to discussing the findings and recommendations from his report following his visits.”

“For many decades we have been building a culture of continuous learning as an organisation to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in Scotland. Shared learning from across the globe helps us put into practice new methods that will give these young people a chance of succeeding.”

One young person’s passion for Parkour has helped give him a brighter, happier future.

Ross, a teenage pupil at Kibble, recognised the benefits of Parkour when it was first introduced into the school curriculum. His passion for the art form, which involves free movement across various terrains using the body, has helped him overcome significant challenges and give him a happier future.

From a troubled background, Ross took on the early role of carer for his younger brother before moving into care. When Parkour was introduced to the school curriculum, Ross initially became frustrated and would give up easily believing he couldn’t do it. However through dedicated coaching from Instructor David Banks, Ross gained confidence and developed a new-found skill. This not only opened up opportunities in Parkour, but also transcended into other areas of his life including his education, ability to meet new people, and participate in other activities. Through being part of a community where “people believed in him”, Parkour helped Ross to build positive new relationships and meet people from all over the world.

According to Instructor David Banks:

“Participation in the arts, not just Parkour allows people to engage in something positive, gives help in formal education, and ability to engage in other art forms – the physical, collaborative methodology in which they work that they can apply to other areas of their lives.”

Ross’s incredible story has been turned into a short film by Youth Arts Scotland, with funding from The Scottish Government. The film is part of a project highlighting the importance of youth arts, and the role arts and creativity can have in improving the life chances of young people and tackling inequality.

According to Ross:

“If I could look back, I would have been in jail. I’d always be getting into trouble; I wouldn’t have much of a life. Now I feel like I could have a family, get a job, get a house. Everything is so much better now that these doors have opened.

“If I didn’t do Parkour, I feel I wouldn’t be who I am just now”.

The Academy Restaurant at The Experience was transformed into an old-fashioned dance hall last Thursday (2 June) as locals joined us for our first ever SuperJam tea party.

The Experience, Kibble’s largest social enterprise and Young Workforce Development Centre, recreated the familiar dance hall of yesteryear, as guests enjoyed ballroom dance instruction, familiar songs, afternoon tea and lots of laughter. As the doors swung open at 3pm, enthusiastic faces from local care homes, and community groups, entered the dance hall dressed in their finest to join in the free event.

The event was arranged in partnership with SuperJam – global jam manufacturer based in Edinburgh. The tea parties provide an opportunity for the older generation to get together and make new friends, and aims to tackle feelings of loneliness and isolation. As the music played out, the dance floor became alive with people dancing to anything from the foxtrot, to the waltz… to the YMCA!

Based in the heart of Hillington Park, The Experience is a hub for the whole community to enjoy. Our award-winning disability karting programme provides those with additional support needs the chance to experience the adrenaline-filled world of electric Go-karting. Karters from 8 – 98 can enjoy this fantastic programme.

Speaking after the event, Eileen Cummings from The Experience said:

“Many people remember the amazing dance halls that we used to have across Paisley and Renfrewshire. We tried to recreate something similar and bring together as many people as possible to have a good time and to get people’s toes tapping.

“We know how isolation can affect the wellbeing of older people in our communities. Events like this are important to help people make new friends and continue to have active lifestyles.”

Of course, the event venue has always been abuzz with music and dance. The former Rolls Royce Factory, who produced the Merlin engines for the Spitfire and Hurricane jets in war-time, had a vibrant social scene with regular dances, cabaret and entertainment put on for staff during lunchtimes in the canteen. Mary Slater, who worked in the factory during the war, said:

“It was a good place for young people because they used to have apprenticeship dances every month. Then at the canteens, C block I think, used to have a dance and music every Friday at lunchtime.”

Helen Allan also worked at the Rolls Royce factory during World War 2. She said:

“Famous people came in during the lunch hour, like Gracie Fields and people we would never ever have expected to see. That was them doing voluntary work and to just help the war effort, it kept people going you know. There was Archie McCullock and his wife came in to entertain us at dinner time. And then there was music while you worked. The music came right through the factory, you worked away doing your nuts and bolts and screws.”

We already can’t wait to run the next SuperJam Tea Party… watch this space and dig out you little black book!

Kibble Education and Care Centre have been acknowledged for the support they give to local people volunteering in the community. Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Manager Forum presented the Volunteer Friendly Award at the launch of Volunteers’ Week 2016 during a ceremony in Paisley town hall last week.

The ceremony is part of a series of events across the UK that are designed to encourage and support the 21 million people who volunteer in their local community. This year it is estimated that volunteering in the UK contributed £23.9Bn to the economy.

Graham Bell, Chief Executive of Kibble Education and Care Centre said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be given the Volunteer Friendly Award. The contribution volunteers make to Kibble as an organisation is extremely valuable and this is a chance to celebrate them.

“Everyone works hard to make sure our volunteers are properly supported. We offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities so whether you are looking to give back to the local community or just wanting to meet new people, volunteering is open to anyone.”

Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Manager Forum represents over 40 organisations, partners and agencies involved in all aspects of volunteering. Statistics from the Scottish Household Survey (2013) state that 26% of adults (37,000 people) living in Renfrewshire volunteer formally through an organisation or group.

Presenting the award was Alan McNiven, CEO of Engage Renfrewshire. He said:

“Congratulations to Kibble for their achievement. Renfrewshire knows that volunteers are wonderful and truly deserve recognition for the valuable difference they make to our local communities.

“Everyone has a different reason for volunteering but they all have one thing in common, they make a big difference through the time that they freely give. This event is a celebration of these people and I want to thank them.”

YOUNG people and their foster carers took advantage of the recent Bank Holiday to cycle round the Island of Cumbrae. The trip was organised by the Fostering Service team at Kibble and brought young people together from throughout the West of Scotland.

30 people altogether took part in cycling before having lunch and even an afternoon session of karaoke. Cumbrae was chosen for its ideal location since most of the foster families are local to North Ayrshire.

Kay Gibson from Kibble’s Intensive Fostering Service said:

“Just because our young people are in foster care, we don’t want them to miss out on the fun of a family Bank Holiday. Many of the children we look after come from very challenging backgrounds and may not have had the typical family experiences that many of us take for granted.

“These activities are not just about having fun though. The experience today was also about some of our kids challenging themselves to try new things.

“Whether it is something as simple as going on a ferry across the water or to interact with their peers in an unfamiliar environment, progress means different things to vulnerable young people but we are seeing huge improvements.

“I just want to put on record my thanks to those people who helped make this day trip possible. However I would like to pay tribute to the people of Millport and Cumbrae who could not have been friendlier or more helpful. We loved our trip and we will be sure to be back.”

A PROMINENT education professional has described a Go-Karting and leisure venue as “unique” for its approach to helping young people into the jobs market. Sir David Bell, former Chief Inspector of Schools in England and Wales, made the comments after being given a tour of The Experience in Hillington Park, Renfrewshire this week.

The Experience is owned and operated as a social enterprise by Paisley charity Kibble. It offers comprehensive training to local young people in all aspects of the hospitality industry. Sir David and his wife Lady Louise made the visit after accepting an invite from his brother, Kibble Chief Executive Graham Bell.

Having started his career as a primary school teacher in Glasgow, Sir David became Chief Inspector of Schools at OFSTED in 2002 and Permanent Secretary to the Department of Education in 2006. He left the civil service in 2012 to become the Vice Chancellor of The University of Reading.

Sir David said:

“It has been fantastic to see first-hand the work that Kibble has been doing to help those furthest from the jobs market. My career has seen me work at school level, local government level and national level but the scale and multi-faceted approach to training youngsters makes The Experience unique.

“Whether it is the go-karting, conference facilities or the impressive Academy Restaurant, the opportunities for gaining experience and skills in hospitality are second to none. The huge advantage of having a social enterprise model is that all the profits are reinvested into improving the business.”

As well as offering supported training opportunities to those with barriers to employment, the Kibble Group  is perhaps better known for its residential school and care accommodation. Founded in 1859, Kibble has gained a reputation for using innovative techniques to help youngsters facing the most distressing circumstances.

Sir David Bell added:

“Learning more about the positive impact that Kibble has on kids is particularly pleasing. I get the impression that where some public agencies admit they cannot help, no matter what the circumstances Kibble does not take no for an answer. That sends a powerful message to the young people.

“It is evident that Kibble believes  that every child is entitled to the same chance to succeed. Education and social care provide opportunity where it would otherwise not be available.”

Eileen Cummings Executive Director of Young Workforce Development at Kibble said:

“It was fantastic to welcome Sir David and Lady Louise to The Experience. I know that David has had a long and distinguished career in education so it is very welcome to have his seal of approval.

“The Experience will continue to offer valuable training and skills to young people across Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland that prepares them for their future careers.”

OSKARS are having a fun-filled community day on Friday 15th April between 10am – 4pm.

Based at 55 Clark Street, the Paisley charity provide a range of second-hand furniture, white goods, and other household items at affordable prices. Services also include painting and decorating, gardening, and home clearances.

As part of the Kibbleworks family, Oskars offers quality goods to those on low incomes, while providing youth employment, education and training to young people.

Speaking ahead of the event, Manager of Oskars Karen Gilligan said:

“This event is a great chance for people in Renfrewshire and beyond to find out what we can do for them. We have grown over the years to provide a reliable and quality service for both individual customers and large companies.

“We are planning on having upcycling demonstrations, craft workshops, a car boot sale and much more. Come along and join the fun at our place in the heart of Paisley, 55 Clark Street.”

To find out more, visit www.oskars.org.uk or call Karen on 0141 847 6626.