As a result of ever-increasing demand in services, Upturn, the Oldham-based social enterprise dedicated to creating positive change in the local community, is set to take its offering on the road via a new electric mobile unit.
To deliver this service, the team has launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise the remaining funds needed for its new a VW ID Buzz Style Campervan that they have already secured part funding for.
The mobile unit will enable Upturn reach deep in the heart of disadvantaged areas across Greater Manchester and in particular Oldham and Rochdale to help create better life chances, provide opportunities for individuals to develop and succeed and deliver its mobile financial support services.
Maria Williams, Co-Founder of Upturn, added: “We’re increasingly hearing about the mis-trust in mainstream services and seeing the demand in our support massively increase but we recognise that are still parts of the community that we can’t reach so we want to do something about it.
“Our work has become very important in the current cost-of-living-crisis, and we need to reach more people, many of which are struggling financially and simply cannot now afford even the bus fare to come and see us.
“This new electric mobile unit will help us reach 1000’s more people who need our help.
“We’re asking for local businesses or members of the public to support our campaign so that we can help as many disadvantaged communities by engaging with them directly on their door step.”
The new electric mobile unit will also enable Upturn to provide new experiences for disadvantaged people, by introducing day breaks – a trip to the seaside or countryside – which will be a new life experience for the most disadvantaged people, as some have never/ rarely been outside the area they live in.
Maria added: “Many of the people we support could never dream of taking a break – they are coming to us in desperation in the current cost of living crisis for financial support with food and clothing and even transport costs and we help, wherever we can through the use of cash reserves, and this makes a tremendous difference to health and welfare.
The VW ID Buzz Style Campervan which will become the mobile unit is carbon neutral and built using recycled materials.
To support the crowd-funding campaign please visit the Upturn website
