OPENHouse
OPENhouse is the trading name of Shire Training Workshops Ltd. Registered address: British School, Slad road, Stroud GL5 1QW.
"Shire Training Workshop Ltd (STW) was formally founded 17th December 1978. It was established by an initial group who were concerned for the future of school leavers who were “entering a world with poor employment opportunities”. The group included: a wood worker, a management consultant, a gardener, a builder, a child care officer and a teacher – all of whom pooled their resources. The first members of the Council were: Jan Beaumont; Thomas Bermingham; Helen Bermingham; Patrick Mansfield; George Perry; and, Helen Tank.
"The first initiative of STW was a new centre where young people could “receive training in basic skills and social and life skills and help to find their way to a working life in a happy and positive way”.
"This was followed swiftly by the launch of Starters Café at 57 High Street in February 1979. The aim of Starters being that the ‘real life’ café would provide a sense of purpose in work and restoring a sense of both self respect and social responsibility. In the true spirit of STW the young people were involved in the build as well as actually establishing and running the café." [1]
Board
Accessed April 2014: [2]
