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Two people with learning disabilities and a support volunteer at a pub in the 1960's

Our story

Quick fact

A team of volunteers
112 Employees
54 Supported Living Homes

2002

Innovate Trust is born

By 2002, we had come a long way from our humble beginnings, and beyond mutual appreciation and a shared history, we had very little to do with the universities in Cardiff anymore.

We also operated outside the direct remit of social services, to reflect these changes and avoid future confusion, we changed our name to Innovate Trust.

Innovate Trust's old logo. 2002 - 2015

2002

2002

Partnership with SVC

In a full circle moment, to recognise the shared working relationship and to further support volunteering in Cardiff, Innovate Trust formed a partnership with Skills and Volunteering Cymru (SVC) to run joint projects and training. 

Innovate Trust employed members of SVC to pool resources and expertise. This partnership formed the largest student-based volunteering project in the UK.

2002

2003

Park View café

In order to provide training and employment opportunities for individuals with Learning Disabilities, Innovate Trust started a catering division.

This was initially funded by the Europe Social Fund, starting with a Park View café.

The catering division gradually grew to several cafés and a catering unit across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan until the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

2003

2005

First supported individual on our Board of Management

Brian Thomas became the first person supported by Innovate Trust to join Innovate Trust’s Board of Management as a Trustee.

This was a first step in the right direction as we moved to reach greater representation. Today, half of our Trustees on Innovate Trust’s Board of Management are people with a learning disability. 

2005
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