Helping others achieve
Electra Business and Innovation Awards finalist profile: The Shed Project Ka¯ piti.
Tell us what the business does.
The Shed Project is a not-for-profit limited liability company with a charitable status. Our sources of business: charity shop, wooden goods manufacture, Trade Me sales produces income supporting our people marginalised within our community.
How did the business start and grow to where it is today?
We started in 2014, enabling good lives for 8 men with Intellectual Disability once a week, including them as expected by any person. Our social work, completely reliant on our business, provides services to those less fortunate. The initiative was based on knowing our people can contribute to our community plus a passion to support. The business activities are based on producing wooden products from recycled materials and a knowledge of the second-hand market. Starting with 2 volunteers, one employee (still with us) from the sector, we outgrew our premises within 6 months and today, our business employs 8 persons, of which 4 are disadvantaged within a regular work-force and some 8 volunteers in various roles.
What sets you apart from others in your field?
Our social services increased providing for over 150 regular attendees, extending services to include home school, youth and adult programmes. Our creative space is supported by Arts Access Aotearoa and Manatu¯ Taonga (Ministry of Heritage and Culture) which allowed us to employ seven extra staff supporting our creative programmes and the means to start a new satellite in Otaki. We couldn’t provide our services without our sustainable business covering overhead costs. We created micro enterprises our people can perform, giving them a degree of self-esteem. Twenty-five per cent of the profit is given back to the community, with our Anzac poppies they donated $2200 to the local RSA. They are currently making Daffodils supporting Cancer Society.
What was your reaction to being named as a finalist? What category/s did you enter?
We’re delighted to be finalist in the awards. We entered the not-for-profit, community and public services category. This gives our awesome staff recognition for their hard work and passion for our people.
What do you like about operating your business in the Ka¯ piti community?
It’s a pleasure to work in Ka¯ piti. We’re inspired and very grateful to have local businesses such as We Love Local, Big Mac Slabs, The Nepal Connection, The RSA and the wider community generously gifting us goods and support.
What does a general day at (your business) involve?
Because of the many wheels turning, a typical day’s very unpredictable!
The workshop, busy manufacturing a large order of gift boxes to making that final box for loved ones, making picnic tables for a local restaurant or fairy doors for a kid’s party. Rob’s in a tizz, can’t find a sold Trade Me item! What? The freight company can’t get here till tomorrow, we can’t move in the workshop!
It’s afternoon, Philip has a meltdown, no Matty I don’t want another coffee, David’s just blocked the vacuum cleaner. Sorry Jo, we’ll do that report tomorrow, it is tomorrow you said that yesterday. What it’s 5.30pm? What have I done today? I’ll take this work home and start this report for Jo (yea right).
Been a great day, great pottery made, artwork produced and our happy people looking forward to tomorrow. That’s all that matters and makes our work very rewarding.