From Homeless and Jobless to a Job, a Home and Happiness
January 31, 2023Posted by:
Jay had been unemployed for 2 years when he came to PeoplePlus to join the Restart programme. Jay’s life had taken a bad turn when after he had been living in a two bedroom flat with his mother, he was suddenly made homeless. Unfortunately, his mother struggled from time to time with her mental health and had to be taken care of in a professional facility. Jay was promised by local housing that he wouldn’t be made to sleep on the streets, but it also wasn’t possible for him to stay alone in a two bedroom flat, that could be used for a family in more need. Jay wasn’t made entirely homeless however, he did have to endure going back and forth to Swansea housing every day to find out where he would be staying each night.
Jay didn’t have any one he could lean on for support so, the Swansea team made it clear to Jay that he was welcome to use the office as a safe place to store his belongings (he only had one rucksack with him) meaning he didn't have to carry everything back and forth to the places he was staying in each night. Jay was welcomed into the office every morning with a warm place to stay and cups of coffee/tea on tap whilst he waited for Swansea housing options to open each morning at 10am to be allocated somewhere to stay around 2pm.
Jay mainly had experience in warehousing work. Straight away Jay engaged with the programme and took advantage of what was on offer. One of the first things PeoplePlus were able to do was support him to get his Forklift Truck (FLT) licence. This meant he was in a strong position should any FLT positions become available.
Here is what Jay’s Employment advisor had to say about his time with PeoplePlus:
“During Jay’s time with us in the office over the 3 weeks we had all been friends for him to talk to – everyone in the office welcomed Jay. He sat in on a lot of Amanda Mota’s (PeoplePlus Tutor) workshops whilst he was here. He was also able to complete a warehousing course at our Neath office not long after he came on programme.
From day one Jay engaged really well with me and the programme. He completed any course/training I suggested and when we found some last minute Forklift Truck training (for the very next day) he got straight to it with no complaints.
During the more difficult time with his housing situation, his positive attitude and resilience has been commendable. It has been quite strange not to have Jay in the office every day for a chat and a cuppa!”
Jay is now in full time employment which he gained through Staffline, with Swansea Council, on a waste management contract. He has a more permanent place to stay through Swansea housing, and now that he is earning money, he is also on a waiting list for a two bedroom house share with another working adult. This means a lot more stability for Jay.
For the time being Jay is really happy where he is, earning good money. However, Jay’s long-term goal was to secure a forklift driving role so, we have plans in place for Jay to speak with our Employer Relationship Manager about any potential work that becomes available. Jay is continuing to think about his future and it looks much brighter.
“My time with PeoplePlus has been something I will never forget. After starting on the programme they arranged some training for me and very quickly things seemed promising. The main person I won’t forget is Ellie, my Employment Advisor, but also the other guys at PeoplePlus. It is because of how much they were there for me during a really difficult time in my life that I have got to the place I have today.
Without Ellie and the Swansea Office, I don’t know what I would have done. Every day, in between finding out where I was staying that night, I always had a warm place to sit in and people to talk to and I was always so welcomed. The cherry on the cake was the support I received with landing a job – everything is on the up for me and I couldn’t be more grateful!
I would recommend PeoplePlus to anyone. The guys there really go above and beyond, and you are guaranteed support from some great people. Thank you, Ellie, and thank you to the rest of the Team at PeoplePlus Swansea!”
Jay, Restart participant, Swansea
January 31, 2023Posted by:
