A Dundee man is planning to set up a job co-operative for people battling mental health difficulties in the city.
Alex Sandison, who has similar struggles himself, hopes the initiative would allow individuals who can’t work full-time to complete tasks on good days and hand over work during bad patches.
The project is still in the very early planning stages, with Alex trying to gauge interest in the city and decide exactly how the co-operative would be structured.
He said: “There are a few other co-operatives already up and running elsewhere in Scotland, mainly around Glasgow.
“They are co-operatives made of people with different skills, who can compensate for each other’s bad days and support each other, while still delivering a professional service.
“Individuals would be given the opportunity to work up to their capabilities and encouraged to develop confidence and skills.
“My plan isn’t yet fully formed as I’m keen to speak to others who might be interested in this to see what they think and what they would want from a co-operative.”
Alex explained that a co-operative would work as an organisation which provides services to clients, just like any other business – with the exception that it would be a social enterprise and its staff would have flexibility in when and how they work.
Talking about his personal experience with mental health difficulties, Alex added: “I can’t work full time. I have bad days and bad patches.
“I know when I’m in trouble, but I can also manage a handover. Working with others, the task could be maintained.
“I am able to build up reserves when things are going well, such that when I am deteriorating I am aware enough to arrange contingencies. I know that I’m not alone in this.
“If enough people are interested, then there is funding we could apply for to make this work.”
Alex has invited anyone interested to come along to a meeting to talk things through on August 10, at 7pm in The Steeple church.
