For this, the first flagship enterprise based in Hindhead, Surrey, 50% of the profits will go back to Stepping Stones School, offering it the opportunity of greater financial independence. The Cookie Bar will provide an environment for the children from the school to experience, hands on, all aspects of running a business during their school curriculum and post their time at Stepping Stones for ex
ample in Saturday jobs or indeed longer term, as initial steps into employment. This initiative will help the students in their journeys to become social and economic contributors. Online cookie ordering is a significant aspect of the enterprise and will further enhance this opportunity as the web does not recognise physical disability, only intellectual capability. There will be other mini initiatives within the Cookie Bar environment such as iPads and iMacs available for use and teaching e.g. eBay for grandparents, art exhibitions where a percentage of sales will go back to the school / projects and there will be studios in the garden for other craft type activities. To help the enterprise succeed, the aim is the leverage business networks to generate regular corporate cookie orders, taking full advantage of social networking capabilities to achieve this. With profits also going back to the COINS Foundation projects, in the process it is hoped that the students will also gain awareness and learn to care about others less fortunate than themselves.
