Pulp Friction is a community micro-enterprise that Community Catalysts supported into being in 2009. We are proud to be part of its journey and celebrate its work, the difference it makes to people everyday and its legacy.
It all started in 2009. It was a tough year for people economically and socially. The UK was experiencing the pinch of the recession and the country had the worst snowfall in 20 years which threw schools and transport into chaos. Despite the economic and social challenges, there were brighter moments: it was a warmer summer than the two before it and Community Catalysts was starting out on its mission to improve the choice of care and support available to people.
In that year we launched our community micro-enterprise (CME) development programme which is still going strong today. One of our first partnerships was with Nottinghamshire County Council. We worked with them to encourage people in the local community to set up their own community micro-enterprises. These small enterprises would support other people in the local area.
And that’s how Pulp Friction came to be.
Community Catalysts supported Jill, and her daughter Jessie who has a learning disability, to set up a Nottinghamshire community micro-enterprise which aimed to offer young disabled adults the opportunity to develop social, independence and work skills. It started out as a mobile smoothie bar venture that was powered by bicycle!
We guided them on their way, making sure that Jill and Jessie had the right advice and information and that their community micro-enterprise was safe, legal and compliant. Their commitment, energy and creativity allowed the micro-enterprise to flourish.
She [the Community Catalyst] was a whole raft of support for us in terms of advising about insurance, really helping me to hone the idea of what it was we wanted to do. And she didn’t laugh, she could see that there was going to be something worthwhile doing at the end. She encouraged me to think, you know, small isn’t bad, small is good. And also it’s good to be different.
Almost 15 years on, Pulp Friction now supports over 60 adults with learning disabilities and /or autism along with their parents and carers. It runs the canteen for the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service which gives Members the opportunity to help prepare and serve food and drinks to the community, as well as delivering catering to events and training venues. It also hosts gardening events, a choir, community allotment, and of course, a smoothie bike service.
Hear from some of the people involved in Pulp Friction and how it makes a difference to their lives.
Watch a short video which shows some of the wonderful faces of those involved in Pulp Friction. Every person is supporting themselves and others in their local community to live a good life.
This year was a big one for Pulp Friction. In May 2024 they were invited to exhibit their ‘Growing Skills Garden’ at the Chelsea Flower Show and won the People’s Choice Award! Members were heavily involved throughout the garden planning and building process. The event was a true celebration of Pulp Friction’s achievements in the local community. And what it means to the team, the Members and the wider community. Watch a video about Pulp Friction’s ‘Growing Skills Garden’.
We were also delighted to support Pulp Friction at the Chelsea Flower Show. Bhupinder Kaur and Clare McGuire lead the local community micro-enterprise project in Kensington and Chelsea. Bhupinder is an active member of the Sikh community and connected Pulp Friction with her local Gurdwara who supplied attendees with healthy tasty meals throughout the week. This went down a treat!
Pulp Friction not only supports its Members and people in the local community to live a good life, but has inspired and supported other micro-enterprises in the Midlands.
At the end of 2019, our local Catalyst in Birmingham met a budding entrepreneur with a passion for health and wellbeing and a desire to help people gain skills for employment. We brokered an introduction and Jill at Pulp Friction supported the person to get their enterprise off the ground. Impact4Life was the result.
Pulp Friction’s helping hand has spread even further with the smoothie bike being passed on to another community enterprise, Friendz & Co in Scunthorpe. It was also set up to provide training and work experience for those with a disability or mental health challenges who want to get into employment.
So, the impact of Pulp Friction goes on. We are so very proud to be part of Pulp Friction’s story of success and look forward to seeing it continue to bloom brilliant.