STRIDE

Leicester-based STRIDE was established in 2000 and is a social enterprise, which provides additional funding for SHARP - the Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project.

Their main business involves selling second-hand furniture and ex-catalogue furniture to the general public through its charity shops, which includes two in Leicester, and there is also a retail unit in Earl Shilton and Coalville.

The link between housing support and the furniture scheme means that housing support service users, who are setting up their new home, can receive basic furniture free of charge.

STRIDE generates an annual sales turnover of £1 million and employs 30 fulltime staff with 40% of those being former trainees or volunteers. The organisation achieved national and local recognition, after winning the Leicestershire Business Award in 2005 for ‘Contribution to the Community.'

The social enterprise provides work experience placements and accredited training in a real business environment.

In 2009 LRPT and STRIDE launched The Learning Café , where supervised offenders receive training in catering as they work under the guidance of a qualified chef.

During opening hours they help to prepare hot meals and snacks to sell to Probation staff - and men and women on supervision. The ‘trainees’ also provide food for the outside catering service, which is available to selected partnership agencies.

For STRIDE Tel: (0116) 222 6784.