Barry secures Apprenticeship with Warwickshire Community Recycling
Pictured: Barry
Location: Warwickshire, West Midlands
ESF Funding: Innovation, Transnational and Mainstreaming strand
ESF Target Group: Disabled people
Warwickshire Employment Support Team (WEST) is one of a number of organisations which has extended employment opportunities in the area under the West Midlands Employers for Employment project (E4E). The project received ESF money through the ESF ITM strand, which encourages and supports innovation, transnational and mainstreaming (ITM) activities under a number of themes – in this case engaging and working with local employers. E4E was originally a three year programme which ended on 30th June 2012, though has received additional ESF grant to continue for a further year.
One individual who has benefited from WEST support is 24-year-old Barry from Stratford upon Avon. With the exception of a part time paid position as a park attendant last summer, which was secured for him by WEST, Barry has worked consistently only on a voluntary basis since leaving school. During that time he proved himself to be a capable worker, doing light manual work in a range of workplaces, always with positive feedback but never with pay.
Despite having a strong work ethic and being prepared to do any type of job within his capability, the goal of full time paid work had eluded Barry. Over a period of 18 months WEST supported Barry with over 30 job applications, work trials and interview practice.
However, more recently Barry’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better with Warwickshire Community Recycling offering him a 12 month Apprenticeship. This positive outcome was achieved following an employer conference which was organised for WEST by The British Association for Support of Employment (BASE) as part of an E4E ESF ITM investment to embed good practice and engage with the local business community. Warwickshire Community Recycling was one of the firms attending the conference and gave Barry a place at the firm under the new Government Apprenticeship scheme.
Barry is working towards an Apprenticeship in Waste Management whilst at the same time working a 37 hour week at Wellesbourne Recycling Centre and occasionally at other recycling centres across the south of Warwickshire.
Helen Wilkinson from WEST who supported Barry through the application and interview process said:
" Lots of things just came together at the same time for Barry. We ran an employer conference through BASE with E4E funding which helped to get the message out there amongst employers that learning disabled adults can be valuable members of the work force. Through follow up work with delegates we found a fantastically supportive employer who focused on Barry’s abilities rather than his disabilities. The Apprenticeship vacancy was available, Barry fitted the bill and following an interview was offered the position."
Barry has now been working in this post for 2 months.
Barry said….
"I like having a proper job. The guys I work with have shown me what to do and they even sorted me out a bike to get to work on when it isn’t raining. People bring their waste to the site and I help them to put it in the right skips. I’ve had my first pay cheque this week too which was a good feeling."
Wayne Gibbons, from Warwickshire Community Recycling said:
"Barry is a valued member of our team and we will be doing our best to support him, and our other apprentices, in gaining an NVQ2 in Waste Management. A key part of our goal as a charity is to show the community that there is a great deal of value in waste and we know that Barry, and his colleagues, will help us to achieve this."