Nespresso has announced its partnership with Change Please, a social enterprise empowering individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Nespresso will support Change Please through a commitment of £1 Million in its first year.
As part of its 2022-2023 Impact Report, Change Please noted a 50% increase in homelessness between March 2022 and March 2023, and tragically, it also reported 1,313 deaths as a result of homelessness back in 2021.
This partnership will see Nespresso support Change Please in its mission to eradicate one of the UK’s biggest societal problems and change lives through the power of coffee. Nespresso’s £1 Million commitment will go towards empowering those who are experiencing homelessness with barista training, a living wage job, life admin support including securing housing and opening a bank account, mental health support and onward employment opportunities.
Half of the initial money (£500,000) will pay for a long-term plan and support at least 50 trainees in The Republic of Ireland. This will allow Change Please to begin its impact work in the Republic of Ireland, including the employment of a Regional Programme Manager and the set-up of a coffee training programme to build on the successful business model in the UK.
A further quarter (£250,000) will cover the set-up of a new retail site/café in a key city where Change Please is, to support the onward employment journey of Trainees and Graduates. The rest of the money will expand and upgrade the Change Please business to ensure longevity and improve support for trainees.
From June 2024, coffee lovers will be able to purchase Nespresso for Change Please coffee blends across the Original, Vertuo and B2B systems and learn more about the partnership and the issue of homelessness at a week-long event held at the Outernet in London. Further profits made from a new collection of accessories and nationwide events will also support Change Please’s mission.
In 2023, Change Please supported 1550 people experiencing homelessness through its programmes, and a further 720 individuals to date in 2024. It is estimated that 50 individuals in Ireland will directly from the funding.
“We are extremely proud to launch this incredible partnership with Nespresso,” said CEO and Founder of Change Please Cemal Ezel. “We have seen the amazing work Nespresso does in coffee growing regions. This partnership goes beyond simply selling great coffee, it’s about using the power of business to drive social change and improve the lives of those most in need in the UK and Ireland.”
