THE MAYOR of Reading was among those toasting a new initiative aimed at helping people with additional needs become master brewers.
The Castle Tap was the venue for Count Me In’s launch event on Saturday, October 14.
There were three sessions held throughout the day, with different audiences, so it could be as inclusive as possible.
The aim of the project is to help people with autism and learning difficulties get relevant work experience by learning how to brew beer. When the project is fully operational, some of the students will be offered employment by Count Me In, while others will be helped to apply for jobs within the brewing and hospitality industry.
It has been launched by brewers Becky and John Whinnerah, and their first beer is Count Me In Pale Ale, created with help from Finchampstead-based Elusive Brewing. It was available to customers at The Castle Tap, who were also encouraged to donate to a crowdfunding campaign.
Saturday’s event was judged a success by Ms Whinnerah, who said: “We are thrilled with the reaction to the launch. We received our first donations within minutes of launching our crowdfunder. And two days later, it’s still going strong.”
They are hoping to raise between £15,000 and £20,000 to get the project up and running, and have already received more than £2,000.
“We’ve now got just under eight weeks to go. We will be running further micro events to raise more cash and will be working hard getting the information out there of how to get involved,” Ms Whinnerah explained.
“We cannot thank the people who have donated enough. This project is so important. As Andy Parker from Elusive Brewing said on social media, ‘In over seven years of Elusive I think this is the most rewarding and important thing we’ve had the opportunity to get involved in.
“’Count Me In Collective is genuinely changing the lives of young adults with special educational needs for the better. This is the most important thing to happen to craft beer in years. Neurodivergent folk have so much to offer our industry.”
And that backing has gone beyond Elusive.
Ms Whinnerah said: “The support from fellow brewers and local pubs has been mind-blowing. We’ve been fortunate enough to be encouraged and supported by all the local microbreweries, and several pubs have already confirmed they will buy our beer once in production.
“Even breweries from across the UK are now promoting us on social media.
“It really is a very warm supportive industry, and we feel very welcomed and encouraged by how many colleagues are throwing themselves behind what we’re doing.”
Next, the couple are looking to create brewkits by the end of the year and launch the brewery by next summer.
To make a donation, or find out more, log on to: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-count-me-in-collective
