Evolve
Evolve
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Here To Help
Evolve is our social enterprise café project based in Birmingham, Digbeth, St Pauls and Selly Oak. It’s more than a place to grab a coffee. It’s a place to build confidence, skills, and brighter futures.
Our Vision: We believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever their background, circumstances or start in life.
Our Mission: Giving young people the tools to build a positive future by creating supported and meaningful opportunities
Aquarius helped my family
"Aquarius helped my family understand what I was going through mentally and physically. If you need help, you should always consider it as an option, as it really helps you to understand what you are actually doing to yourself and also helps your family understand."
Anonymous, Service User
They saved my life
"They saved my life, I wouldn’t be 2 years clean if it wasn’t for them, I’ve never really had a family but Aqaurius have all become my family."
Kai, Service User
Helped me see the correct path
"Aquarius has helped me see the correct path to the end goal of quitting. I would recommend the services as the system is far from conservative, the advice is tailored exactly to how you'd personally quit. They build onwards from this."
Preston, Service User
Very good clear presentation.
"There was a good variety of attendees from different backgrounds. The information on dependency & how brain is affected in teenage years was especially good. Very good clear presentation."
Anonymous, Service User
Knowledge shined through
"The trainers knowledge shined through and they effortlessly answered questions, speaking from their professional experience, discussing historic precedents but also new research."
Anonymous, Service User
What we do
We offer:
- On-the-job training in a real café setting
- Accredited qualifications and employability support
- A supportive workplace that understands life isn’t always simple
The combination of both commercial and service elements of the social enterprise work well together to create the following benefits:
- Real work experience and training – Young people gain hands‑on experience in a supportive setting, alongside access to relevant training and qualifications to help them move into long‑term employment.
- Early support for wellbeing – We create a safe space where young people can access early intervention around mental health, substance use and other challenges, linking directly to in‑house services delivered by Aquarius and our partners.
- Sustaining recovery – By offering meaningful activities and an alternative to mainstream services, we help people maintain their recovery and reduce the risk of falling back into the cycle of crisis and referral.
- Giving back to the community – We encourage young people to take part in social action, building confidence, skills and a sense of belonging.
- Reinvesting in services – Income generated by the social enterprise goes back into Aquarius projects, shaped by the ideas and feedback of young people themselves.
Since opening in 2017, over 20 young people have trained with us, each gaining an average of five qualifications. Many have gone on to further education or work. Our two Birmingham locations in Digbeth and Selly Oak now serve hundreds of customers each week.
All profits from Evolve are reinvested into youth support and community projects so, your coffee really does make a difference.
EVOLVE has 3 sites:
Evolve @ the Adam and Eve
A social enterprise youth hub in Digbeth offering support to sustain and strengthen recovery.
- Activities promote recovery with young people’s voices at the core.
Evolve @ Grounded. Selly Oak
A wellbeing café and hub offering coffee, therapeutic workshops, wellbeing activities, and social events in an inclusive community space.
- The on-site Evolve café provides volunteering and employment training. All income supports youth activities.
- In partnership with the Living Well Consortium, Evolve also delivers wellbeing cafés and employment programmes with supported training and volunteering.
Evolve @ Grounded. St Pauls
A wellbeing café and therapy hub offering coffee, talking therapies, and a welcoming community space.
- The on-site Evolve café provides volunteering and employment training. All income supports youth activities.
- In partnership with the Living Well Consortium, Evolve also delivers wellbeing cafés and employment programmes with supported training and volunteering.
Our approach
We know that moving from recovery or adversity into employment can feel like a big leap. Evolve bridges that gap by creating a space where young people feel supported, respected and ready to take steps forward.
We’re proud of the community we’ve built – not just for those behind the counter, but for everyone who walks through the door. From our pay-it-forward scheme for local homeless people to inclusive events and ethically sourced products, Evolve exists to serve in every sense of the word.