When participants at Me Time Nottingham are asked what they would like to achieve in the future, getting a job is a very popular response. Unfortunately, with very few supported
employment
Employment means having a job.
schemes in the area, this has been a dream which for many has felt difficult to achieve.
However, a recent partnership formed between Me Time Nottingham and the Mencap charity shop in Clifton has created a successful voluntary work placement scheme which is working towards providing the people we support the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
Volunteer
A volunteer is someone who helps out by doing work for free.
Services Coordinator Alison Sammons, Store
Manager
A manager is a boss at work. They tell you what you need to do and give you support if you need it.
Stacey Evans and Me Time Coordinator Charlotte Baker worked together to create and plan a unique and exciting opportunity, aiming to support collaboration between Mencap services, increase
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
engagement for the people we support and provide valuable skills and
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
for the workplace.
A group of four people we support have recently completed the first trial run of the voluntary work placement, attending the Clifton charity shop every Thursday for 10 weeks, working on sorting donations, labelling for gift aid, tagging, pricing and displaying items for sale. They have also had training and opportunity to use the till to serve customers.
The group were supported each week by a member of Me Time staff, who also delivered training to prepare the group on topics including GDPR and gave a full volunteer
induction
An induction is when someone shows you where things are and what you need to know. You will get an induction if you start a new job at Mencap.
. The group would be supported to travel on the local bus to the charity shop and complete the tasks they were given on each occasion.
Following 10 weeks of hard work, the group were awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements and commitment. Each person thoroughly enjoyed the experience and most have asked for the opportunity to do it again in future. Each person takes forward with them many new skills and aspirations for the future, and may be one step closer to achieving their goals of employment.
Me Time Facilitator Sophie, who supported the group, said: ‘’I really enjoyed supporting the group at the charity shop. It was great seeing all of them progress and develop their skills as the weeks went on – they all learnt so much. It was particularly interesting watching them learn to work effectively as a team and by the final weeks they were sorting donations and getting them ready to be sold in no time at all.
The connections that we made with the staff and other volunteers at the shop were really valuable and I feel that we will continue to support each other after out placement has finished, for example at future open days and fundraising events.’’
Following this hugely successful trial run, a second batch of volunteers will be starting a 10 week placement towards the end of May. This group are extremely excited for the opportunity, having heard all about it from their peers and seeing how much they have enjoyed it.
‘’I liked working on the till and I learnt how to scan items. I learnt which clothes we could sell and which clothes had to be sorted into bags to be collected by the rag man.’’ - Umair
‘’I was good at sorting out the donations – I think it could help me get a job in future at a supermarket. I enjoyed working with Stacey and seeing all the dogs coming in with the customers.’’ - Oliver
‘’I have learnt a lot of money skills and how to be kind to the customers. My training and certificates could help me get a job in the future. I enjoyed staff Sophie coming with us and helping us at the shop.’’ - Daran
Me Time Nottingham have formed a strong bond with the Mencap Charity Shop Clifton and we hope to continue to work together with this mutually beneficial scheme for years to come. Store Manager Stacey Evans said ‘having Me Time Nottingham volunteer at our Clifton store has been incredible. The group has done exceptionally well, they have helped us so much over the 10 weeks and to see them grow in confidence and gain new skills over that time has been amazing to see. We can't wait for the next group to start with us and hopefully many more groups to follow’.
Volunteer services coordinator Alison Sammons added ‘everyone has worked so well together and the people you support have enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to visit a few weeks ago and see everyone in action and how the volunteers were really enjoying their roles, and making a difference to the shop. I’m so pleased that everyone has embraced the idea and worked together to create this opportunity for the people we support. Volunteering is such a great way for people with learning disabilities to do something meaningful and develop their own skills and learning new things - the success of this opportunity is proof of this.’’
Davisha’s Story
Davisha has attended Me Time Nottingham for a little over a year. She was immediately recognised as a talented and capable beautician when she joined our beauty group, with skills in painting nails, braiding hair and a keen interest in fashion. Davisha was keen to utilise her passion for beauty and fashion and was particularly interested in styling mannequins and creating window displays in the shop.
Prior to starting the placement, Davisha reflected on her goals and what she would like to achieve from the experience:
"I love to do make-up, plait hair and do nails. I want to be a fashion designer and make up artist. I would like to help with selling the different types of design outfits. I will love to work at the charity shop to help people and ask if I can help. I would like to learn how to use the till."
During the 10 weeks of placement, Davisha regularly chose outfits for the displays and enjoyed helping to tag the clothes for sale. She also carefully selected jewellery and accessories to style the mannequins and create pleasing visual displays.
Following the completion of the placement, Davisha reflected on what she had learned and her hopes for the future:
‘’I’m enjoying dressing the mannequins with different designed outfits. I have learned to use the cashier and and met new people, they were very nice. My skills are putting the tags on different jewellery and putting the prices on them. What I want to do in my future is get more certificates to help me get a job in the future’’
By Mencap