Confidence boost for homeless jobseekers from Asda
Asda's Hollingbury store is a champion of Business Action on Homelessness in Brighton. The store runs four work placement programmes a year, providing valuable retail work experience for homeless people on the path to independent living. Dealing with the public in a customer service role helps BAOH clients develop communication skills and boosts their confidence.
On each programme, Asda provides four work placements and four members of staff have been trained by BAOH to be ‘work buddies'. Buddies help clients settle into the working routine and deal with day-to-day issues. Placements are for an initial two week period, but this is often extended to four weeks. Asda has offered permanent jobs to several BAOH clients at the end of their placement.
Roger Boyd, HR Manager, Asda Hollingbury
Related case studies
Improved Communication at The Argus
Newsquest (Sussex) Ltd, who publish The Argus newspaper in Brighton and Hove joined BCP's Employee Volunteering scheme, in 2005. In 2006 they became Gold members, with 8 teams of employees participating in community challenges.
Taking a Chance and Flying
Andy Barber became street homeless for 6 months living in St Patrick's night shelter during this time. When he applied to come on the Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) programme he had not worked for a year. His morale was very low through the experience of becoming and being homeless and unemployed. Through BAOH Andy was offered a placement at Marks & Spencer Brighton store.
Mentoring for new staff
Daniella Scott joined the Business Community Partnership on a New Deal work experience placement with Sussex Youth (now called Creating Futures). To help her get to grips with her role as administrative assistant, Susanne Barthelmes, a professional organiser from All Sorted! Consulting volunteered to act as a mentor. Susanne and Daniella met up for a few hours each month to discuss the challenges in Daniella's new job.
Mott MacDonald promotes CSR with positive action
Mott MacDonald is an international management engineering and development consultancy with a commitment to promoting corporate responsibility throughout the business. The group's Brighton-based energy division is a keen support of Business Action on Homeless, providing volunteers and in-kind support.
NEET Work placements in New Media
Academy Internet (pictured) got involved with a project to train and place NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people into the New Media and Digital Media employment sector in Brighton with Action for Change.
