Foundation4work provides up to 12 weeks of free support with job seeking, CV writing, attending interviews and any other part of the process of finding work that people might struggle with. It also gives people hands on experience in a retail and warehouse setting, to gain the skills and confidence that employers are looking for.
We share how the programme helped AR to feel comfortable in a new environment, and then use his existing skills to improve his confidence. We also share the many other long-lasting positive changes that AR experienced as a result of taking part.
Meet AR
AR is 19 and lives in Gateshead. He found out about Foundation4Work through Project Choice, which promotes “employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties or autism through supported courses”. The two programmes work really well together, and AR was keen to spend 12 weeks with us while being part of Project Choice.
At the Beginning
AR was very nervous to begin with, and didn’t communicate much with the Foundations team. To avoid any feeling of overwhelm, we started with an induction about included health and safety, fire procedures and purchasing AR his own work-boots and PPE. Next, he completed some online courses (Equality and Diversity, and Inclusion in the Workplace) through ACAS while getting used to the Foundations setting. This meant that AR could settle in to the Foundation4Work programme gradually, while still adding valuable training experience to his CV.
Once AR felt more comfortable, the Foundation4work mentors went through the employment toolkit, which includes templates and instructions for each step of the job seeking process. (The free toolkits are given to each participant to use independently at home, and the contents compliment the one-to-one support available during the 12 week programme). AR was then able to tell us which areas he would most like to spend time developing.
Alongside the job readiness mentoring, AR started doing some practical tasks around Foundations’ units such as loading and unloading the van, getting items of furniture ready for delivery, and repairing damaged items.
Playing to His Strengths
Here at the Foundations charity, we collect electrical appliances donated to us by local residents, and we carry out a PAT test and a function test to make sure each electrical item is safe and in good working order. We can also complete minor repairs. AR mentioned to shop manager, Eric, that he knew a lot about washing machines, and was given the opportunity to work with Eric to test and fault check a washing machine, and his skills and knowledge were excellent.
“Eric has helped a lot in allowing me to help him test and fix washing machines”
After this, AR’s confidence grew. He started communicating more and more, and he opened up about his interest and hobbies. The growth in his self-esteem was noticed by all of the Foundations team members.
We got in touch with AR after he left the programme, to see how he was doing, and he told us:-
“I feel much more confident now due to the experience, and I have less anxiety day to day due to being around other people.
Foundations has helped me think more about what I will do in the future. I have gotten on well with everyone at Foundations, I’ve learned a lot in my time there.”
What Else has Changed for AR?
Foundation4work focuses on employability skills and work experience, but there are many other benefits that make a positive difference to the participant’s overall wellbeing…
AR had a good circle of friends before he joined the Foundation4Work programme, but once he got to know everyone at Foundations, he felt that the experience had added more people to his social network.
He feels less anxious about the future and day to day issues since being part of the programme, and feels like he can better express himself and communicate.
The biggest change for AR was his confidence, and he disclosed that his self-esteem is much higher due to the Foundation4Work experience. He thinks much more about what he wants to do in his future career, and feels he now has the additional employability skills he needed to work towards his goals and aspirations.
Update
AR recently returned to Foundations to volunteer one to two days per week, and has quickly become a valued member of the team.
To find out more about volunteering and employment support in Gateshead, call the team on 0191 477 8337 or visit the Foundation4Work website.