Today sees the launch of an exciting new pop-up shop designed to help local young people learn new skills and sell their products within the community.

The initiative has been created by young adults from Barking and Dagenham through the Every One Every Day initiative and the Kickstart Programme. Kickstart is part of the Government-backed programme designed to provide paid employment opportunities to young adults between 16 and 24 years old on universal credit.

The pop-up shop, named The Good House, will be located at the Heathway Shopping Centre in a unit offered for use by the council. The project will run for four weeks and is a collaboration between Be First, the council’s regeneration company, and local community-based partnership network, Every One Every Day.

The project began in May this year when Every One Every Day was joined by 20 young people as Kickstart Trainees in food, clothing or homeware, with the aim of learning how to make products and start local businesses. This led to the pop-up shop being created as a way of enabling the Kickstarters to introduce their products to local residents and run their own store.

Each product to be featured at The Good House will be sustainable and follow design principles, such as being simple, circular, essential, fairly priced, and healthy. Products on offer will include furniture, ceramics, clothing, and jewellery through to sauces, spices and juices.

Councillor Sade Bright, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration, commented:

“I am delighted to see this pop-up store launch with assistance from the council. As we recover from the pandemic, it is vital that our young people have every opportunity to learn new skills and expand their career horizons.

“As a council, we are committed to seeing the creative industries thrive in our borough and this Kickstart collaboration with Every One Everyday will enable budding local entrepreneurs to create and sell products to their community in an innovative, sustainable and rewarding way and to gain the confidence and knowledge to go even further.”

Iris Schoenherr, Programmes Manager, Every One Every Day, commented:

“It has been great to witness each Kickstarter’s journey from learning basic practical and technical skills, to exploring different materials, from wood to recycled plastic to fabric to fresh food, and see them co-create a range of essential products as teams.

“The Good House won’t just be a place to buy these products, but it’s an experience in sustainable living, with an exhibition and a workshop that invites anyone to share, learn, make and repair essential products as well as buy them. Our Kickstarters are hosting a series of hands-on workshops to share what they have learnt with the borough, and to invite others to share their skills. Come join in, have a look around and sign up for a workshop.”

Dijana Binakaj, Kickstart Trainee in Clothing, commented:

“I joined the Kickstart programme because I wanted to experience what it's like to have a job where you get paid and yet also learn new practical skills from scratch. Not only that, but I also wanted to learn about how to be part of a collaborative business that is eco-friendly.”

The Kickstart programme has seen wider success across the borough with over 300 Kickstart places secured for young people across 50 local employers. In total, 142 of these places have been filled, with more vacancies available and more places being filled each day to help young people into work.

The Good House opens October 15 and can be found at Unit 11, The Mall, Heathway, Dagenham, RM10 8RE. Shop opening times are Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00am - 4.00pm  (may vary slightly in programme). Please sign up for workshops in advance.

Further information can be found at: www.weareeveryone.org/kickstart and www.weareeveryone.org/the-good-house-pop-up-shop