What is Change Please?
Founded back in 2015, Change Please is an award-winning social enterprise that’s all about tackling homelessness through the power of social enterprise and, believe it or not, great tasting coffee. The whole idea is simple but powerful: 100% of their profits go straight to helping people experiencing homelessness via their Barista Training Programme. They don’t just teach coffee skills—they train folks to become baristas and support them with everything they need to turn their lives around. That means a living wage job, accommodation advice, therapy, bank accounts, and onward employment opportunities. It’s a full-circle approach that starts with a cup of coffee and ends with real change.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Change Please isn’t just about coffee; it’s about impact. Here are some key facts that show just how much they’re achieving:
- 100% of Change Please profits fight homelessness
- Over 85% of trainees have successfully found ongoing employment
- 500 trainees have become baristas through their training
- 1,000 trainees targeted for 2022 alone
- 5,000 nights of accommodation provided
- £75,000 in-house support for people battling homelessness
- £2.5M+ in grants and donations raised to help fight homelessness
From a Coffee Cart to a Training Academy
The journey started in London with just a single coffee cart in Covent Garden. That humble beginning quickly grew into something much bigger. Soon after, Change Please opened their training academy in Peckham, London, where they train people to Speciality Coffee Association standards. Today, the project boasts 10 coffee bars across London, with big plans to expand even further. It’s a story of growth fueled by passion and a commitment to finding innovative solutions to homelessness.
Driving for Change: Expanding Impact
In 2021, Change Please launched a new Impact Programme called Driving for Change. This initiative delivers vital services to the most vulnerable guests, including NHS and oral healthcare nurses, a hairdresser, social support, digital and financial literacy training, financial advice, employment support, and much more. It’s about meeting people where they are and providing the tools and services they need to rebuild their lives. All of this, again, starts with a simple cup of coffee.
Certified BCorp and Social Responsibility
Change Please is proud to be officially certified as a BCorp, which means they meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Being part of this global community of businesses means they’re committed to positively impacting people, communities, and the planet. It’s not just about business—it’s about responsibility and making a real difference.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 1: No Poverty – Fighting homelessness and poverty through employment and support
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Providing healthcare and therapy services
- SDG 4: Quality Education – Offering barista training and digital literacy programs
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating living wage jobs and employment opportunities
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Supporting vulnerable populations with tailored services
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Operating as a sustainable social enterprise
How Change Please Operates Financially
The Change Please (CIC) and the Change Please Foundation (CIO) are separate entities but work closely together with the same mission: ending homelessness. They use 100% of their profits from coffee sales to fund their mission and Impact Programmes. Importantly, they never take money out of the business through director’s bonuses or dividends. Instead, the money is reinvested to open more training sites, pay trainees a living wage, and give 100% of the remaining profits directly to the Change Please Foundation. In 2023, this amounted to 80% of company profits. The leadership team, including Cemal Ezel, Rob Gillon, and Alison Egan, also serve on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, ensuring alignment and dedication to the cause.
