Employee Testimonials

Making a difference in so many ways – that’s what community enterprise is all about!

Ever wondered what it’s like working at Right2Work – and why we like to make a difference….this is Chloe Carradus, she looks after the back office stuff (and then some) for Community Works (and is also part of the Exec Support Team at our parent Oaklea) -click on the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl26EPdxqpU

Teamwork -Chloe with Jim & Barry from Community Works

Changing places – Sam’s Story

 

A young man from Ulverston has described how Building Better Opportunities Getting Cumbria to Work (BBO GCtW) project changed his outlook on life and working.

Sam Huck has a diagnosis of autism and also has a long-term medical condition. He described how this sometimes made him struggle with the routine demands of life.

He obtained NVQs in Site Joinery and Bench Joinery at Furness College but a subsequent apprenticeship with a firm did not work out.

“I just wanted to give up on joinery and a lot of people thought it was a waste of an opportunity because they saw great potential in me.” said Sam

Then he was offered the opportunity to volunteer at The Furniture Warehouse, which collects, restores and recycles unwanted furniture from residents throughout South Cumbria and is run by Right2Work, a partner in the Building Better Opportunities ‘Getting Cumbria to Work’ project.

Sam eventually got a paid job with Right2Work’s newly launched Community Works team. They provide property & general maintenance services, including gardening, groundworks and general house maintenance to the local community.

The team also provides a supported vocational environment in the property maintenance sector for learners with learning disabilities (Sam did a Property Maintenance Operative course at Kendal College and helped to tutor learners at R2W).

(Below – Never lost the love of joinery -Sam made this coffee table out of old pallets)

How had working with R2W and Building Better Opportunities GCtW helped him?

“It gave me the confidence that there are opportunities out there for people like myself.” said Sam. “It changed my outlook on life and working life completely. “If I had not had that help, I don’t think I would be, in any way, shape or form, in the same mental state and job position that I am in now.”

Update -Carpentry calling: Sam moved on from R2W in Summer 2021 and is working at a leading Joinery Firm -his first love goes full circle..

The final word of positivity -Sam to Learner Trev – “Oh no – keep it quiet – I think i’ve become a case study!’