Earlier this year Aberdeen based Music 4 U (SCIO 36995) took up residency as the on-site Charity at Waterloo Quay.
Music 4 U was set up in 2003 and became a charity in 2005. Founder Debra Baxter (Kirkness) had a lifelong passion for singing and performing. She started Music 4 U to remove barriers to performing arts for young people irrespective of any challenges they may face.
The charity has grown organically, to deliver an extensive timetable of classes for groups in Aberdeen including a weekday project for young people aged 16 plus, who are in, or have been in, supported education.
With a dedicated team of tutors, musicians and support staff who have been selected based on their ability to empathise, encourage, and enrich the lives of everyone who attends.
This week the charity, partnered with Waterloo Quay, began their first Social Enterprise initiative by accepting the offer of running the Coffee Shop at Waterloo Quay’s Provender House, with all profit going to Music 4 U. This exciting opportunity came at the right time for the charity with increased running costs and evidential strains on securing funding via grant applications.
The Ivories is open Monday to Friday 08.30 until 15.30 hours and Saturday 10:00 until 14:00 hours.
The Coffee Shop’s soft opening includes the sale of delicious sandwiches, scones, traybakes, fruit, confectionary and soft drinks as well as freshly brewed coffees and assorted teas. A brand-new lunch menu will begin offering tasty dishes such as soup of the day, baked potatoes, hot meals and toasted sandwiches/Paninis.
The coffee shop is open to all Waterloo Quay Tenants, Quay Life and Quay Fitness members, PO Box Users, Corporate Coffee Club members and all visitors at Waterloo Quay. The space will also be available for events with catering provided. The Ivories are also able to provide catering for meetings and training events keeping everything ‘in-house’ which is of course good for the planet. It’s a great place for colleagues to catch up over lunch or coffee and for members and visitors to catch up on emails between meetings – informal and perfect for networking.
‘The Ivories’ Directors Anna-Marie Eardley – Managing Director of Waterloo Quay Properties and Debra Kirkness – Founder of Music 4 U expressed their pride and excitement ahead of what could become a wholly innovative operation enabling training, volunteering and employment options to the students at Music 4 U, widening their choices for the future.
Corporate Coffee Club Membership is free to joint and interested parties can pick up a form by coming into Provender House or emailing info@waterlooquay.com.