THE COSE - CENTRE OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Building A Dream
Back in November 2021, we bought a building in Bishop Auckland to become our new base.
The building had been unused for a long time meaning it needed a lot of refurbishment work.
Doing Good All Round
We supported 12 adults with learning disabilities to complete a traineeship and gain work experience on the project, working with Trades4Care CIC on the painting and decorating of the centre.
All Together Now
The COSE (pronounced co-zee) offers a base for our projects and services, and will be home to a number of local social enterprises and community organisations.
The COSE also offers affordable, creative Co-Working space and space for local adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults to set up their own social enterprise.
Making A Start
January 2022 marked the beginning of the refurbishment! Once complete, we'll have a bright and accessible community space with "living wall", affordable social enterprise space, art installations and much more!
We ran Design Thinking workshops with the people we support to come up with the design and layout of the centre. Have a look at our "visions for the future" below to see some of the exciting plans for the centre!
Finally there!
In August 2022 we finally moved into our new home!
We're over the moon to finally have a permanent base and we can't wait to see the huge positive impact The COSE is going to have on the people we support and the local community for years to come!
For Space and Room bookings, contact admin@bridgecreative.org.
Thank You!
We secured £327,115 funding for the refurbishment of the centre, with huge thanks to our incredible funders for making this project possible and seeing the value in our vision!
South Durham CLLD through the European Structural Investment Fund Programme 2014-2020, The Community Ownership Fund, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), The Gaunless Gateway Big Local Partnership, The Screwfix Foundation, Power to Change Bright Idea’s Fund and The School for Social Entrepreneurs