Jelly Cat

Background

Jellycat Media Limited is a newly registered company which will provide real work opportunities and training in creative media for young people aged 14-35 who have experienced mental health problems.  The organisation will offer youth arts apprenticeships – in film and sound recording, web and graphic design - and aims to employ participants at the end of their training.  

Working with partnership agencies Jellycat will deliver workshops, short courses and work experience for young people. Their aim is to enhance the creative skills of the young participants and work with them towards re-entering education, training and employment, with restored confidence and self-esteem.

Kate MacDonald and James Harper set up Jellycat, combining their personal and professional goals and joint expertise to create the company.   

“Jellycat aims to reduce the stigma of mental illness.  We want to show that young people, by training and working in the creative arts, can and do just want to get on with their lives,” said Kate.

Support and Advice

As plans for Jellycat progressed Kate was recommended to get in touch with Social Enterprise Humber and met up with Eric Hope, Social Enterprise Broker and Donna Murphy, Social Enterprise Co-ordinator.  They spent some time talking through what Kate and James were trying to achieve, identifying what skills they had and what other professional help they needed to help them get the business off the ground and ensure that Jellycat has a future.

Donna and Eric recommended contacting Geoff ? at C.E.R.T. at Immingham Resource Centre – specialists in community economic regeneration and Stephen Smith at Latitude – a company experienced at working with start-up enterprises.  

Stephen Smith at Latitude worked with them to create their business plan - making them address key issues like their business profile, the purpose of the business, target markets etc.  They spent time defining clear objectives, and developing marketing, organisational and management plans.

“It is crucial with a new social enterprise that they get the right expert business advice, practical support and learning opportunities from the outset, to ensure that they have the stability, security and the opportunity to sustain and develop,”  said Donna Murphy “We were delighted to help and wish Jellycat every success.”

The Future

Jellycat will also be establishing a high quality multi-media service to businesses, organizations and voluntary and community groups.  In addition they will provide a consultation and research service to organizations like Connexions Humber and Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, offer training in mental health awareness. They will also support other agencies by providing competitively priced publicity and promotional materials.  

The company has clearly defined short, medium and long-term objectives – increasing year on year the number of clients and the number of service users and developing sustainable income to finance their activities.

Social Enterprise Humber is a project, funded by Yorkshire Forward, which aims to support the development of Social Enterprises in the Humber sub-region.  Our key goals are to help existing Social Enterprises move away from grant dependency, and new organisations to get off the ground.

For further information contact     
Emma Buttrick
        Social Enterprise Administrator
        Business Link Humber
        Tel 01724 291526
        Fax 01724 291511
        Mob 07795605228
        www.sehumber.co.uk