From handing out drinks to the homeless to serving them in their very own coffee shop. The Paper Cup Project has blossomed from a non-profit organisation into an independent business, Paper Cup Coffee, located in the heart of Liverpool.
What is the Paper Cup project?
The Paper Cup Project is a registered local charity founded by CEO Michelle Langan in 2016. Their aim is to tackle the ever-growing issue of homelessness in Liverpool, providing acts of service to those who are often ignored by society.
It is managed by a team of six members, including Michelle, and is upheld by volunteers who offer their hand in passing out food, clothing, and a listening ear to the homeless.
Michelle states on the project website that she started Paper Cup as the problems homeless people face are often dismissed, leaving them ‘voiceless’ and that ‘being on the street carries a lot of stigma.’ Another team member, Lola, adds that their key drive is adding more love to the world and ‘making sure the homeless are looked after.’
Onwards and upwards
With the amount of success the organisation has gained in the past 5 years, gaining sponsors such as The Big Yellow Self Storage company, Echo, Knowsley Community College and more, the team felt it was time to take the next step in their journey and Paper Cup Coffee was created.
However, this coffee shop is not like your typical caffeine pit stop. The team of diligent individuals, with help from public volunteers, has built this concept from the ground up whilst helping independent businesses in the process by using them as their suppliers.
One of its most unique touches is that they are training homeless people within the city. In a BBC Radio interview, Michelle states that the training they are offering is based on helping homeless people build up their work and social skills in order to help them find their way back into the workplace with the confidence to do so.
They are also placing some of the profit they make towards funds for the charity, helping it to expand and touch the lives of more people in need within the city.
Within their BBC interview, Michelle introduces the ‘pay it forward’ scheme they have in store which means that as well as buying a coffee for yourself, you can pay for a coffee for someone who cannot afford it, giving the opportunity for people to engage in an act of kindness within their daily routine.
The coffee shop opened their doors to the public on the 21 February 2022 and it is based in Queens Square, offering a range of sweet treats and warm drinks.
The next steps for this business are to open more coffee shops, hopefully creating a chain in order to build up their foundation and spread the importance of community.
This charity accepts and appreciates any fundraisers to help them impact people’s lives for the better. One of their volunteers, Jack, recently raised £925 through organising a virtual 10k run.
To find out more information about this charity and what they do or to become a volunteer visit their website https://papercupproject.org/
Pay a visit to Paper Cup Coffee at 2 Queen Square, Liverpool L1 1RH.
Jessica Marshall
