Foundation Aims

The Emily Jordan Foundation was set up as a lasting legacy to Emily, after she drowned whilst river boarding in New Zealand. Emily was 21 and had just achieved a first class honours degree in law, at Swansea University and was on her gap year with her boyfriend.  We, and many of her friends, therefore believed it was the right thing to estabilsh a Foundation in her name. To leave a legacy to her that will last for many years into the future, helping these individuals whom have a lot to give, but very often are not given the opportunity.

During her short life, Emily had spent much of her spare time with Alex, her brother and his peer group, all who have learning difficulties. She completely understood the difficulties they encountered and regularly worked with local voluntary groups. On leaving full time education, many individuals with learning difficulties, find it almost impossible to secure skills training and find paid employment, especially in a competitive workplace.

Aim of the Foundation:

To help individuals with moderate learning and physical disabilities to lead valued and fulfilled lives.

The immediate aim of the Emily Jordan Foundation is to raise sufficient funds to purchase an industrial unit, in Kidderminster in the West Midlands, of between 8-9000 square feet, with good quality access for disabled individuals.

Relocate Spokes CIC to the new Unit, www.spokes-uk.org. Spokes is a successful social enterprise, which is currently running from small inadequate facilities. It’s primary purpose is to train young people with learning difficulties to enter the workplace. Individuals are trained on a daily basis to clean, assemble and service obsolete bikes, which are then offered for sale back to the public. To increase its self generated revenue, Spokes is now also involved in running bike clubs on local estates and repairing bikes for local schools. Not only does Spokes train and “employ” this learning disabled client group, but there is the added value for families and carers being able to pursue their own lives and employment during the working week, who would otherwise require some day care support for the individual.

What funding has been raised to date?

£133,000 has been raised towards a total of £340k to secure a suitable sized premise. A wide range of fundraising has already taken place by Emily’s family, School and University friends. The challenge is to keep the momentum going.

Later plans include:

1. Creating a computer training area for the individuals to learn computer skills. Ten computers have already been sourced, but space is required to lay them out. This side of the Foundations work would run with the help from local interest groups and Councils. Significant interest has already been expressed in this development

2. Create a new Community Interest Company( CIC) that would be involved in the training of basic woodworking skills. The aims of this operation would be to manufacture bird boxes, hedgehog hibernation boxes etc. Some of these boxes would be equipped with miniature cameras, for the viewing of birds laying eggs and bringing up their young. These products would be sold from the site, over the internet and through other social enterprises.

The Trustees of the Emily Jordan Foundation thank you for your support.