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.
He was also introduced to Ann Williams (below), an Employment Advisor for both organisations. “Ann helped me build up my confidence.” said Sam. “She made sure I was comfortable about where I was and helped me feel good about myself and happy in what I was doing.”
“In the weeks before I was due to start at The Furniture Warehouse we had conversations and she made sure I was ready to start and told me what I would be doing when I did start.” He worked there as a furniture restorer.
“I was over the moon. It was like someone had picked my dream job and given it to me.” he said.
He then 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, who is doing a Property Maintenance Operative course at Kendal College, is already helping to tutor the learners.
“I absolutely love it. It is the best job in the world,” he said. “The learners know that I have my own struggles but seeing me it gives them the confidence that whatever disability they have they are capable of progressing in life if they work hard.”
“Some of the learners are twice my age. We are learning from each other. One day one of the learners was making a wooden box but he was struggling to cut straight lines. I saw the emotion building up in him. I taught him the correct technique and gave him confidence so he was able to cut perfectly straight. It was a wonderful feeling seeing him by lifted by that bit of teaching.”
Top of the table – Sam never lost his carpentry skills – he made this from old pallets
How had working with Ann Williams 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 has 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.”
Ann also noted Sam’s transformation. “He is like a completely different man now. He has found a niche and run with it. He is absolutely loving it.”
The final word of positivity -Sam to Trev – “Oh no – keep it quiet – I think i’ve become a case study!’
