Designed to inspire the mind: 10 years of Doubleclick
Double Click Design and Print CIC – just ‘Doubleclick’ to its friends – is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a social firm in 2025, and there is so much to celebrate!
Doubleclick’s origins go as far back as 1993, when it began as a research project, run by Flintshire County Council, to “create a realistic work opportunity for people suffering with or recovering from mental health problems”. After subsequently achieving great success within the community, the desire to expand its scope and services grew – and, finally, after a number of years of planning and discussion, plus invaluable support from Social Firms Wales, on 14th April 2015, Double Click Design and Print CIC came into being. And over the past decade, the company has continued to go from strength to strength.
This social firm is a unique blend of commercial graphic design agency with creative vocational training, made available via referral to members of the local community who are in mental health recovery. This is done in collaboration with Flintshire’s mental health teams.
“Our training is designed to develop creative skills that will help individuals to get back into work, start a business, return to education or simply to gain the confidence to enable them to move forward”, Neil Rees, Doubleclick’s Operations Manager tells us. “These skills may include graphic design, photography, web design, or creative writing, but, to be honest, we do our best to tailor training to the individual’s needs and their creative passion, whatever that may be, as we believe this gives them the greatest chance of success. At the moment, for example, we have someone training to be a tattoo artist, another exploring game design and someone else developing Welsh language workshops – so the possibilities are pretty much endless!”
Design and print work and training all happen in the same open plan studio, based within a characterful annexe at Deeside Enterprise Centre, a space that offers ‘good vibes only’ – made clear by a neon sign that promises just this as you enter!
“We’ve all experienced the stress and anxiety that can come with traditional working environments”, says Neil, “So we go out of our way to ensure that this is always a relaxed, welcoming and inclusive environment. We have an amazing team of staff, trainees and volunteers at Doubleclick, and so much support from local businesses and organisations, and I think we can all sense something special is happening here”.
“We always wanted to link in with other like-minded firms in the area and to support local communities”, adds Sumnadipa, Chair of Doubleclick’s Board of Directors, “Because when people and businesses come together with shared values, they can have a big impact and be a positive force for change”.
Over the past year, Doubleclick has seen a number of changes of its own, most notably a rebranding and further expansion of its trainee support, including creative and wellbeing trips, made possible with a new electric minibus kindly funded by the Postcode Lottery Community Trust. Double Click Design and Print CIC – “quite the mouthful” admits Neil – has modernised with the new trading name Doubleclick, new logo and strapline, now simply ‘A Creative Social Firm’, and new commercial services include web design, branded clothing and merchandise, digital graphics and video marketing; they will also be relaunching their popular magazine ‘Like Minded’. The new logo also gives a nod to the company’s Welsh roots.
“This anniversary feels like the perfect opportunity to show people all these new changes while celebrating our history. While researching, I’ve become acutely aware of all those amazing people who played such vital roles in setting up, supporting and running this company, and heard some equally amazing stories about the people we have supported”, continues Neil. “I don’t think you can underestimate how important community-focused support like ours can be to people, and it has been my honour to pick up the baton from our previous manager Andy, and all those others along the way who helped create such good will towards us over so many years, and continue to develop the business and services we offer."
“We have some very talented people coming through our doors each week, and helping them tap into those talents and turn them into real skills that may help shape the rest of their lives is very rewarding. And the team at Doubleclick look forward to supporting people to do that for many more years to come!”
Doubleclick will be hosting a special anniversary celebration on 14th April. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] or call 01244 846411. To find out more about Doubleclick, please visit their website www.doubleclickdesign.co.uk or their accounts on Facebook (/doubleclickcic) or Instagram (@doubleclick_cic).