Vision Made

My word. Didn’t it take me a helluva long time to work out that this was a charity shop? I’m not proud but it wasn’t until a friend directed me in here that I was corrected. Until then, I was convinced that it was a tacky new-​world shop out to cash in on charity-​shop lovers like me, who are happy to while away a Saturday morning searching for the odd pretty item in a mountain of junk.
Although I wasn’t overwhelmed by the stock, once I got in I was pretty happy to see that Vision 21 have their sights on making a charity shop which sells something different from last year’s unwanted bubble bath, and some old man’s mouldy slippers. But I must stress that this is not my cup of tea.
The fact that this shop is tuned into adult development is so refreshing to see, and it is clear the charity form a truly supportive network. Yes, this breaks the mould and it will certainly take some time to get used to but the work done here is something to be admired.
URBAN CHALLENGE: Take a moment to look at the posters in the window

Yeh this is a gift shop, but it is a gift shop that makes a difference. The brilliant thing about Vision 21 is that it helps people with mental problems work within the community, something extremely beneficial to those who just want to be out there and join society.
This is an odd looking shop from the outside, it is covered in adverts and bit of paper, completely blocking the light that helps you browse the items instore. I feel they need to rectify this to attract more people to the shop.
They stock all sorts of gift items like cards, bags, pottery and other little nik naks that you might consider giving to grandma. There is never really anything in here that appeals to me, but it is for such a good cause that you can’t help but try to buy something.

Vision 21 charity shop has not caught up with the rest of the charity shops on Albany road to reinvent itself as a modern shopping experience. The front of the windows are plastered with adverts and signs that obscure the light entering the shop and create a cluttered look to the entrance.
As you look around you’ll find many gift items such as cards, gifts, leather purses, bags, incense, plants, pottery, all merchandise are gift items.
The proceeds of the shop go toward helping adults with learning difficulties get training and work experience that will prepare them for working the job market.
I think that if this shop wants to attract more customers it needs to become more ordered and shopper friendly.

I was a bit confused when ever I’d popped into this shop. I’d always had high hopes when I popped in looking for a gift or a card I was always a bit disappointed. It seemed like a kind of alternative/​new age shop but it didn’t seem to really be there. No real sign of fair trade stuff and it tended to look a bit mass produced.
So the other day, I thought I’d have another go — pop in and see what was what. Nah, still didn’t quite sit right with me. But it was only on my way out of the door that I noticed a small sign explaining the premise of the shop — that it is a gift shop designed (and I assumed to fund) to help people with mental health difficulties by training them and giving them work experience. Then it all made a bit more sense.
And, actually, I must applaud it. There are so many charity shops that sell tat or second hand high street clothes, but this one has concentrated on nice, unusual gifts. As a hippy I was expecting something else, but this all makes sense now. And I will definitely be popping in to get some stocking fillers before christmas.

Vision Twenty One is an inspired idea. It’s a charity set up to assist people with learning disabilities that offers unique opportunities to their clients to make the most out of life. The Vision Twenty One Gift Shop on Albany Road is one of the sixteen projects currently being coordinated by the charity. It really is quite brilliant! Not only does the shop enable students to develop retail skills, it achieves this objective by providing them with the opportunity to sell products made in the other projects that they run. That’s a win, win situation if ever I saw one!
All the projects are very varied, and so you can expect to find a comprehensive assortment of product on sale in the shop, ranging from food, wooden artefacts, pottery, cards to plants grown by the more green-​fingered amongst them. Everything that is sold generates income which is reinvested back into the projects to make them as self sustaining as possible.
I say it again… Brilliant!
Background:
Vision Twenty One is a regional charity. All of the sixteen training projects that they coordinate are located in Cardiff, Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan. The fundamental objective behind their mission is to provide realistic training for students in real work experience settings. Many of the projects are open to the general public thereby providing the students with the opportunity to practice all the skills needed to realistically apply for paid work within the open job market. The projects use the social enterprise model, meaning that each project operates as a small business. The products made as part of the student training, be it food, wooden products, pottery, cards or plants, are all sold to generate income which in turn is fed back into the projects to make them as self sustaining as possible.