The Usual Place (Inspired Community Enterprise Trust Ltd)

Who we are

The Usual Place is a unique skills academy in Dumfries, South West Scotland, providing life-changing opportunities to young people with additional support needs.

The Usual Place is an awardwinning organisation, a World Host Destination and a Disability Confident Leader.

We first opened our doors as a community café in 2015 and provide training, education and employability skills for young people with additional support needs. Since then we have worked with over 2,200 young people for every pound invested by The Usual Place, nearly eleven pounds in value (£9.8 million) is sustained across the Dumfries & Galloway economy. This includes the additional costs avoided by the public sector through generating opportunities for a disadvantaged group. These figures are provided to illustrate the importance of considering distributional impacts. The focus of employment in a community facing significant deprivation represents an excellent opportunity to address child poverty, inequality and the distribution of economic opportunity.

Many of the young people who have thrived through our programmes would previously have been invisible, excluded, at risk of isolation and loneliness and importantly, unable to fulfil their potential as valuable, active citizens contributing positively to their communities. We focus on promoting the innate talents and capabilities of young people, enabling and empowering them to flourish, and challenging stereotypes. All the money we make in the café, and from room and event rental is used to cover business costs in support of our aims. Every area of The Usual Place is fully accessible and wheelchair-friendly throughout. We also have an award-winning Changing Places Toilet 

Our culture and values

Everyone is of equal worth

Everyone can contribution to their community

Everyone deserves dignity and respect