About BSK: Where Everyone Gets to Shine!
Our Mission
At BSK, we create meaningful opportunities through structured education, training, and employment programs designed specifically for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic individuals. Our comprehensive approach operates through two key initiatives:
BSK Academy: Delivers our cornerstone Learning for Life education programme
BSK Enterprises: Encompasses our three thriving business operations
Our Journey
Our story began in August 2017 with the opening of Beresford Street Kitchen, , quickly adding our Catering Workshop just two months later. Even in these early days, we supported 16 crew members with learning disabilities and/or autistic individuals – with an ever-growing waiting list demonstrating the vital need for our services.
Our expansion continued with:
BSK Print Works (April 2018)
Food services for local organisations (including feeding hungry police officers for 3 years!)
Emergency Meal Delivery Service during the pandemic
Premium Events Catering, now including weddings and high-profile functions
Strategic Growth
In 2021, following a comprehensive review of our charitable impact, we launched an ambitious 5-year strategy featuring our Learning for Life education program – a structured 2-year curriculum that enhances both work skills and life skills.
Today, we’re incredibly proud to provide workplace training, education, and employment for over 60 individuals with learning disabilities and/or autistic people – showing our commitment to creating an inclusive community where everyone can develop skills, confidence, and independence.
The Vision
Our vision is of an inclusive workforce, where people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people have the opportunity to maximise their potential, be recognised for their skills and be regarded positively and with respect.
Our mission is to provide quality education, training and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people by promoting:
Our commercial mission is to provide a high quality service to customers within a sustainable and inclusive social enterprise model.
How it all started
The BSK Charitable Trust (previously The Aspire Charitable Trust) was established in May 2015 by a passionate group of friends – Stephen Kendrick, Julian Clyde-Smith, Paul Burton, Paul Bennett, Paul Watson, Eleanor Christie, and Valerie Cartwright – came together with a dream. They wanted to create something special: a real working environment right in the heart of St. Helier where people with learning disabilities and autism could learn new skills, grow in confidence, and shine in the workplace.
This vision became reality thanks to a generous local benefactor who provided our premises at 17 Beresford Street through a 21-year rent-free lease and funded most of the extensive refurbishment. After two years of careful preparation, we proudly opened our café doors on August 7, 2017, followed by our print workshop on April 9, 2018.
Supporting Our Future
Today, Beresford Street Kitchen sustains its operations through income generated by our social enterprises, plus the wonderful donations from our supporters. While our rent-free premises provide a valuable foundation, we continue to look for financial partners who can help secure our future through regular support or one-off gifts. This would help us continue growing and supporting even more individuals with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.
Our Patron
We are delighted that as of 2023 His Excellency, Lieutenant Governor Vice Admiral Jeremy Kyd CBE is our Patron of Beresford Street Kitchen.