Realise Your Potential

The Pitch

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

15 people

Expected impact

Following successful trials of this project, we will support 15 disabled young adults in reflecting on their self-worth and developing how they value themselves. Discussions will include overcoming challenges and highlighting abilities. We will use these sessions to upskill local disabled adults and support them through volunteer opportunities and potential employability options. We will work with a local disabled person's-led charity and cafe to carry out wellbeing activities such as gardening, whilst working with the cafe's volunteers to teach beneficiaries about the benefits of reusing food and cooking/catering skills. By the end of the 3 months, the beneficiaries will have a route into a volunteer role with ourselves and/or the cafe, which could lead to future employment opportunities. This will continue to build our team of disabled employees and volunteers, further supporting the growth of our work and impact.

Track record

We have worked with over 12,000 beneficiaries, with 100% of beneficiaries recommending our work. Our impact has been recognised by multiple national awards including being named one of the most influential disabled people's organisations in the UK - if we can achieve that as a micro-enterprise, imagine what we could do with increased support! We have been supported by national disabled and non-disabled leaders such as HM The King, Mike Adams OBE, Isaac Harvey MBE and the Mayor of Greater Manchester. A member of our team has said that "without Happy Smiles, I would be at home doing very little, seeing only my family. I can't thank Happy Smiles enough for changing my life". Another team member said that "since being involved with Happy Smiles, my confidence and health have greatly improved and I have little to no seizures at all anymore".