Breaking the Cycle The Importance of Employment Greg Walker Chief Executive - CREATE.

Breaking the Cycle

The Importance of Employment

Greg Walker

Chief Executive - CREATE

CREATE’S AIMS

• ENVIRONMENTAL – To recycle / refurbish used electrical ‘white goods’

• SOCIAL - To provide affordable white goods for low income households

• EMPLOYMENT - To provide work for disadvantaged adults

• FINANCIAL–To be financially sustainable

CREATE’S RESULTSCREATE’S RESULTS

• ENVIRONMENTAL - Recycling over 2000 used ‘white goods’ per week

• SOCIAL - Refurbishing and selling about 250 products per week to low income households through our own shops & other charities.

• EMPLOYMENT–In 14 years we’ve moved over 450 people on to full time employment

• FINANCIAL – Our core costs are met through our commercial activities, not grants

FINANCIAL FACTSFINANCIAL FACTS

2008-09 - £2 million turnover - split as follows:

• Recycling Contracts and Sales of Raw Materials – 24%

• Sales of Refurbished Goods & Manufacturers Returns - 50%

• Training & Employment Contracts - 24%

• Grant Income - 2% - (In 1998 our grant income was 53% of our turnover.)

We strive to make a surplus – we don't always succeed!

Employment / Training Contracts – What CREATE provideEmployment / Training Contracts – What CREATE provide

• Contracts from local councils enable CREATE to provide

• Paid employment for 3 months at minimum wage

• Individual training plan dictated by needs of individual and funds available

• Relevant generic and vocational training

• Job Search and interview training

• Links to employers & employment agencies

• Real work combined with personal support

Employment / Training Contracts – Primary Target GroupsEmployment / Training Contracts – Primary Target Groups

• Unemployed adults from the priority groups dictated by the local councils

• Long term unemployed 18-24 year olds

• Recovering Substance Misusers

• Ex Offenders

• Disadvantaged ethnic groups

• Disabled adults

• People on Incapacity Benefit???

Breaking the Cycle - Contracts versus Grants

• Sustainability means contracts not grants

• Targets need to be met

• Reduction in flexibility

• Grants can help meet social aims better

Breaking the Cycle - Job Creation or Moving onBreaking the Cycle - Job Creation or Moving on

Some people get taken on to CREATE’s staff (43 staff – 60% ex trainees)

Others will move into work with partner charities

Moving on to jobs locally in vocational growth areas

Increased use of placements during their contract

Breaking the Cycle - Hardest to Place People

• CREATE does a growing amount of work with ex offenders

• Partnership with HMP Liverpool, City Employment Strategy Team,

• Involvement of C.I.B., Probation Service, Job Centre, Working Links

• Current market place - realistically only around 25% moving on

• Look for other outcomes – reduction in re-offending - training

Breaking the Cycle - Hints• Look to contract with councils that do the funding work for you

• Develop grants alongside contracts where possible

• Provide real work – not ‘scheme’ type work

• Work with organisations that are there – don’t try and re-invent the wheel

• Base your operation on what the local employers want

• Be ideologically promiscuous - Be innovative

BETTER FUTURES FOR PEOPLE & PRODUCTSBETTER FUTURES FOR PEOPLE & PRODUCTS