Ella O’Brien, Community Fundraising, Marketing & Communications Officer at Yellow Submarine, shares the vision behind the charity, the benefits of working for a small organisation and how the eScalate programme has helped her work.
How did Yellow Submarine start?
Yellow Submarine started in 2009 to provide short breaks for adults with learning disabilities and autism in Oxfordshire. Toby Staveley, our founder, wanted to help his family member, Max, achieve his dream of visiting Disneyland. The family knew the cost would be astronomical as Max had down syndrome so the holiday costs would have to extend to the carers who would need to come to support him. The seeds of Yellow Submarine were planted here as Toby found there was a huge need for running holidays for people in Max’s position at an affordable cost.
What is the purpose and vision of Yellow Submarine?
At Yellow Submarine we believe people with learning disabilities and autism deserve to live life to the full. We tackle the problem that many people with learning disabilities leave school with limited life skills and as a result poor life chances. This often leads to isolation and being marginalised. Our projects start working with young people in community settings from the age of 11 onwards, to build their social skills, confidence, independence and ultimately their employability. At the same time we are supporting families and carers with respite.
What support did you receive from eScalate and how has it helped Yellow Submarine?
I enjoyed attending marketing workshops through eScalate. The professionals leading shared useful insights to marketing in easy to digest sessions. It was also a great opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other local organisations and businesses and so became a valuable networking event.
What are the most rewarding moments you’ve had with Yellow Submarine in Oxfordshire?
As we are a small organisation I am lucky enough to see first-hand the impact the charity has on people’s lives. The most rewarding moment at my time with Yellow Submarine was attending our café awards ceremony. Seeing how far our trainees had come in terms of confidence in such a short space of time was very special and I got to share that with some of the fundraisers who had made it possible.
What does Yellow Submarine have planned for the future?
Yellow Submarine plans to find another venue in Abingdon. The South region has seen the largest growth of all regions and now comprises 40% of Young People and 30% of Adults of our entire membership. This growth and the specialist schools in Abingdon make it the perfect location for our third location. Watch this space!
Find out more about the work that Yellow Submarine does.
The eScalate programme provides support for purposeful businesses, social enterprises and trading charities in Oxfordshire. You can access remote 1:1 support for your business through the programme. If you would like to book a 1:1 with Grant Hayward, Enterprise Support Manager, please email escalate@oxfordshirelep.com.
The next Marketing with a Mission workshop takes place on Wednesday 23rd November at the Old Fire Station in Oxford. Find out more and book your spot here.
