Train & Trade: Steve

Steve manages a number of our Train & Trade workshops and talks about his job and his clients.

My job is really rewarding. Most of the people who come to us are at the lowest point in their lives, and their experiences have a huge impact on their ability to find work. Whatever their story, we often find that their confidence and self-esteem have broken down. It’s our job to rebuild them.

People can learn all kinds of skills in our projects, from painting and wallpapering, to fitting locks and dry lining. The courses are accredited, which means that clients receive an official qualification at the end. Through our connections with a number of construction firms, we then help clients to find work.

The good thing about the employers that we’ve made links with is that they understand our clients. There’s no high-pressure interviews and, in cases like Roxanne’s, working hours can be made to fit around her family life. It gives people an opportunity that they might not have found otherwise. We train them to never need us again.

But there’s more to the projects than just the practical side of things. Although we’re not officially working in a caregiving role, I think it’s important to take a holistic approach and focus on our clients’ wellbeing as well as their skills.