Jake Hollier runs a coffee shop housed in a converted red telephone box in the city centre (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
The young owner of Birmingham’s smallest coffee shop has launched a campaign to raise £50,000, in a bid to help “educate and diversify” homeless people from across the city.
Jake Hollier, who runs a coffee shop housed in a converted red telephone box in the city centre, hopes to expand his business and wants to use his new enterprise as a means of employing, housing and educating homeless individuals he encounters on a daily basis.
The 23-year-old entrepreneur, who lives in the Jewellery Quarter, opened Jake’s Coffee Box in Eden Place next to the Birmingham Council House in August last year; after only one day’s training as a barista.
Jake’s Coffee Box is officially the smallest coffee shop in the city, and may even be the smallest in the country (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
The kiosk – outside which he serves at a temporary table – is officially the smallest coffee shop in the city, and may even be the smallest in the country.
Currently on an initial three-year lease, Jake’s Coffee Box serves all the usual drinks, cakes and snacks expected from a regular cafe outlet, five days a week, between 7.30am and 6pm (4pm on Fridays); despite only being a stone’s throw away from a competing Starbucks store.
However, after encountering more and more homeless individuals and rough sleepers since setting up last summer, Jake decided to launch a Pay It Forward scheme.
Also known as a ‘Suspended Coffees’ initiative, the scheme encourages paying customers to advance purchase of a cup of coffee for someone who needs it, regardless of who or why. This can be done by purchasing full cup drinks or donating some change towards the hot beverages.
>> GALLERY: Jake’s Coffee Box launches homeless initiative <<
Jake has already launched a Pay It Forward scheme, often known as a ‘Suspended Coffees’ initiative (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
The former Cardinal Wiseman School pupil now wants to provide more than just coffee to some of those who have the adequate skills and ability to learn, but no permanent residence to qualify for work.
“I am in the midst of opening up my second coffee shop, with plans to open up a third later this year. I want to hire homeless people as well as provide safe accommodation for them. This is killing two birds with one stone, they can’t get a job as they have no address, they don’t have a home due to unfortunate circumstances, mental health issues and so forth,” Jake explains.
“I want to help a large group people get back on their feet, and once there they can continue to work for me or move on to another career. They will be gaining new skills and qualifications whilst in my employment, as well as a safe place to live.
Jake Hollier has set up a GoFundMe online fundraising page to help realise his ambitious project to help the homeless
“The money will be spent setting up appropriate accommodation, setting up a course for the homeless community, as well as hiring the correctly qualified people to look after the homeless staff’s state of mind.”
Jake hopes to have funding secured by July and wants to focus his first project on homeless ex-servicemen and those with mental health challenges. He also aims to work closely with homelessness outreach groups including the Birmingham Food Drive and Birmingham Homeless Outreach; who are currently jointly setting up a permanent centre to shelter roughs sleepers and the vulnerable displaced.
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You can help Jake Hollier raise funds to assist the homeless, by donating here.
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