The driving force behind our Bold Bhaile CIC community hub is Joanne Dyas. A true force of kindness and compassion, who's mission is to create a safe, supportive and inclusive place for members of our community with additional needs to thrive in.

 

For the 10 years before starting this venture she had been working as a registered mental health nurse in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Hospital Psychiatric Liaison Services. Prior to this Joanne worked for many years as a nursery nurse and support worker in a number of different settings for people with additional needs, including schools, colleges, training centres, community housing establishments and also ran a number of programmes focussed at integrating and involving people with additional needs into everyday living. These programmes including enterprise, independent travel and work experience. 

 

Supporting Joanne with this new facility is her partner Dave Dyas, who also has extensive experience in similar roles, including support work and community sports coaching in schools, colleges, community centres and supported housing establishments. 

 

The original organisation was called Bold Initiatives and was originally developed by them both following their dream of developing something that allows them to make a living and support their own family, but also provide support for the local community to make a lasting difference in people's life's, whilst expeanding everyone's opportunity to have a safe and successful existence. To do this with  inclusion and access to all. This has not been easy and has proved financially challenging at times, but nothing is going to prevent Joanne, Dave and their daughter Jessie from making something special happen through Bold Bhaile CIC. 

 

A key member of the team starting out was their daughter Jessie Dyas, who as well as having experience in business set up and development as also worked as a carer with older adults in supported living settings. Jessie also has experience in retail and beauty and therefore will be supporting the team in developing and planning a wide range of activities on offer. 

 

Along with an expanding team and a small army of the kindest and most committed volunteers, the team is in place and the passion to make a difference is everywhere. You'll never forget it when you experience it!

 

The key aims of the facility is to provide day care support and opportunities to adults and young people with additional needs who are eligible for Direct Payments to support them with their social needs and aspects of daily living. 

 

On site we have a small, preloved shop, this is an online facility and provided affordable items to the local community. This is run with the help our members who are attending via the Direct Payment support programme. 

 

The main aim is to create a home from home type setting where everyone feels welcome and included. As the facility develops, the offer and opportunities to incorporate the local community, area and grounds is also a key part of the facility. 

 

There are lots of projects and ideas in the pipeline. For the first 18 months the hub was heavily dependent on volunteers and goodwill. The hub now offers a number of part time paid contracts, alongside our loyal volunteers and supporters. This indicates Joanne ahd the team's commitment   to making a lasting difference.

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The organisation is heavily dependent on donations and sponsorship from local and even national businesses, so these are always welcomed.

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"We believe in kindness as a super power. We're surrounded by heroes and are here to make a real difference to the life's and experiences of those in our community who need it the most".