Anyone who has visited the Global offices will know that we are very into our coffee here. Recently, our Creative Director Darren discovered Change Please coffee whilst attending a Virgin Start Up event. This is a brand with not only a great product, but also a powerful story.

Change Please is a brilliant social enterprise backed by the Big Issue and aims to tackle homelessness. They are empowering the homeless community by training them to be baristas and providing them with the support they need to get back on their feet.

In two years, the venture has gone from one cart in Covent Garden to 15 sites across London. The life-changing project has since gone nationwide with the introduction of Change Please coffee being made available in Sainsbury’s stores across Britain.

There are three different blends available, each one sharing the story of someone who has been able to benefit from the programme. This includes Thomas Noble who as a result of the work he’s done with Change Please has had a “new chance at life, a family, friends and a job I love.”

Since its launch in November 2015, Change Please has helped 35 formerly homeless people like Thomas to completely transform their lives. This has also included support with housing, setting up bank accounts, and professional therapy. Once each individual training programme is complete, the employees return to the mainstream world of work and all remaining revenues are put back into the project with the figure currently over £655,000.

Change Please coffee is available to purchase at £4.50 per bag with a share of each bag going directly to the person featured on the packaging. All profits are then put back into the social enterprise to help more people get off the streets and back in to society.

It hasn’t just been the coffee that has caught our attention. The fast growth of Change Please shows just how powerful having a strong emotive story can be to help drive the success of a brand. It is that hook that helps your customers connect with your business and in some way feel involved.

You know that when you purchase coffee from a vendor in London, they will directly benefit with support being given to help them build a better life for themselves. Similarly, a share of each bag of coffee sold in Sainsbury’s goes directly to the person featured on the packaging, with all profits going back into the enterprise to help more people.

Change Please coffee carts can be found in locations such as London Bridge, Canary Wharf, Borough Market and St Pauls with new sites in Loughborough Junction, Regents Place and Truman Brewery. You can also buy the coffee direct here.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to read some similar posts, head over to our blog for more from our Wanted Wednesday series.