Back On Track Are...On The Right Track With Excelerate Labs Support!

We just love getting reports from our Manchester Business Advisers and this latest case study about Back on Track is no different! Back on Track were supported by Business Adviser; Ameena Ahmed under our Manchester growth programme; Excelerate Labs and here’s what they have to say…

‘Back on Track is a Manchester charity that enables disadvantaged adults to make lasting positive changes in their lives.’

It was formed in 1977 and is based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter where they work with adults who are going through a process of recovery or rehabilitation, having been through problems with alcohol or drugs, offending, homelessness and mental health.

Sioban Pollitt, their Chief Executive and Services Manager said; ‘Our projects at Back on Track enable people to build the skills they need to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.’

Ameena worked with Siobhan and also, Kate Downes, who is responsible for the development and direction of the café at Back on Track, as the organisation celebrated its 40^th birthday!

Back on Track operates through delivering training courses either at their training centre or on outreach courses, it also offers clients volunteering opportunities and work experience. As well as this they have an amazing on site café; Swan Kitchens – which is staffed by volunteers and service users.

‘Back on Track is our in house café – staffed by those who are rebuilding their lives after problems with homelessness, substance misuse, mental health and offending. Swan Kitchen offers real work experience opportunities and a chance to explore a career in catering.’

Ameena worked with Back on Track to explore planning for a new food outlet in Manchester City Centre, building on the experience that they had with Swan Kitchens. She worked with them to produce a three year business plan that would specifically focus on this social enterprise project and fit into their wider plan as a charity too!

Siobhan and Kate hoped to create this food outlet which would target the health and wellbeing of shoppers and tourists in the city as well as becoming a trainer and employer to the adults that received support from Back on Track – A great plan for the growth of this business!

Siobhan told us; ‘The help we received from Ameena was fantastic! It enabled us to articulate our plans for our catering social enterprise. Already now we have implemented the first stage of our expansion by employing two catering assistants, both of whom have lived experience of some of the issues we address at Back on Track.’

So it’s great to see that the plans are in place for Siobhan, Kate and the rest of the team at Back on Track, to expand in the very near future!

If you’d like to find out more about Back on Track, you can do so by using the contact details below!

Website
Twitter
Phone Number: 0161 834 1661

And if you’d like to find out how we can support your Manchester based business – then get in touch with us today! For more information about the project please contact exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk

The Women’s Organisation is proud to lead the way in innovative business growth support through our new programme 'Excelerate Labs'.  The programme open to men and women running a business in a B2B sector will enable businesses in Greater Manchester to innovate, diversify and grow creating new jobs.