Case Studies

Building Resilience Through Judo: The Case of Randori Dojo CIC

Background

Midlothian, a local area in Scotland, grapples with significant social issues, including high rates of drug and alcohol misuse and poverty. Recognising this, Randori Dojo was founded in January 2018 to leverage judo for positive social change. Their programmes promote long-term participation in the sport, aiming to improve participants’ physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being. This extends beyond technical skills, fostering teamwork, leadership, patience, and a sense of belonging – crucial elements for a thriving community.

Founder

Growing up in Midlothian, Mark Taylor began his judo journey in Gorebridge at a young age. A decorated athlete, he achieved recognition at the Junior, Youth, and Senior levels. Notably, Mark remains a top-ranked competitor at European and World Masters levels, and his accomplishments include Commonwealth medals, solidifying his position as a world-class judo from Scotland.  Despite these accolades, Mark felt the absence of a thriving judo scene in his community. This realisation, coupled with his passion for the sport, sparked the vision for Randori Doju in 2018.

I have been a Judo player since the age of eight. I have been involved in competitive fighting at an international level and in coaching. Judo has been a major influence during various stages of my life and after a 20-year career in Residential Child Care, I made a return to competing and started coaching again. Judo in my local community had once thrived, so I was surprised to see that most of the local Judo Clubs had all but ceased to exist. I wanted to utilise my skills to benefit my local community through Judo.
– Mark Taylor (Founder of Randori Dojo)

Firstport: A Cornerstone of Support

From the very beginning, Firstport has been a vital partner in Randori CIC’s journey. Their financial and business support has been instrumental in building a sustainable social enterprise that positively impacts the community.

• Launching the Dream: In 2018, a Start It award provided seed money to help Mark in covering essential startup costs including venue rental, and marketing.
• Early Impact, Growing Demand: Within a year (2018-2019), Randori’s programmes fostered a sense of belonging, promoted positive social values, addressed social issues through inclusion, and tackled isolation resulting in the increasing demand for their services. Recognising Randori’s potential, Firstport awarded them Build It funding in 2019, allowing them to expand their reach and community impact.
• Resilience and Growth: Despite pandemic challenges, Firstport’s Boost It (now Step Up) enabled Randori to serve 275 regular beneficiaries by 2021. Fifteen beneficiaries received fully funded memberships, reflecting Randori’s dedication to accessibility.

Current Status: A Flourishing Judo Community for All

Randori actively brings judo to local schools and communities.

• Engaging all ages: They offer judo programmes for males and females aged 3 to 78.
• Accessible and inclusive: Their classes, events, and projects are low-cost compared to similar activities, with funded spaces and Active Schools Programmes to ensure inclusivity.
• Focus on learning, not competition: Unlike some providers, Randori prioritises a fun and safe learning environment. They promote inclusion, personal development, skill acquisition, and positive experiences through recreation, coaching, and volunteering opportunities.

A resilient and impactful future ahead

Throughout Randori’s journey, Firstport’s support has been comprehensive and adaptive, providing the right resources at each stage of development. From initial startup funding to expansion grants and crisis support, Firstport’s assistance has been instrumental in helping Mark to develop Randori Judo into a resilient and impactful social enterprise.

The Next step

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