Why me
Small charity benefits from joining larger community
One of the downsides of being a very small charity is that it can be a lonely existence, whether working from home or from a small office. So when Sian West, Director of Why Me? - a restorative justice charity that represents victims of crime - started looking for office space, having a convivial working environment was as important as cost.
Restorative justice is when the victim of a crime meets their offender in a safe, controlled environment to get their questions answered. This also provides the opportunity for the offender to make amends. The vision of Why Me? is to see restorative justice available for all victims of crime who want it, paid for by the state.
The charity had been run from home by a part-time project worker, but there was a need for a proper office space in order to present a professional face. Following a recommendation from a colleague who knew about CAN Mezzanine, Sian looked at a number of options. "I decided on CAN Mezzanine because economically it offered good value and it just seemed the right environment for a new charity as we would be mixing with other small charities." .
Sian moved into CAN Mezzanine's Old Street offices in April 2010 and is currently the only
full-time employee. "But if I decide to take on an extra member staff then there is the flexibility to easily add another desk. That's a huge benefit," she says. "What's also good about CAN Mezzanine is that everything is transparent - you know what you are paying for and what's included. Other office providers are sometimes not so clear."
A year's desk rental costs just under £4,000. This includes reception services, all back-office support, kitchen facilities (including free tea and coffee), free meeting rooms, plus regular social and training events for all the charities and social enterprises in the building. Neighbours that share the immediate open plan office space around Why Me? are all small charities, spanning education, international development, health and child protection - contributing to a sociable working environment where people benefit from shared experiences. .
"What's great about CAN Mezzanine is the unique atmosphere and high-quality environment which makes a small organisation like ourselves feel welcome and gives us a professional face," says Sian. "We are looking forward to the benefits that being amongst other charities and similar organisations will bring as well as the CAN Mezzanine support and advice."
Sian is appreciative that the services CAN Mezzanine offer come as a package. "The fact that you've got a secure reception that's friendly and meeting room availability which is terrific, are great advantages. Also, having the refreshments available is good, as are the very reasonable prices for photocopying and printing."
In addition to the facilities available Why Me? enjoys the camaraderie that The Mezz generates. "We're all very different to the other charities, but it's just nice to be here with other people in the third sector. The atmosphere is good, and working with other charities is a terrific source of information and support."
For more information on Why Me? and restorative justice visit http://www.why-me.org/