Click here for our latest news and discussion topics. Voice your opinion or just find out more about Aspire Foundaton.
View our blog >
“I watch with anticipation - hoping that their work can inspire a generation of new entrepreneurs to spring forward from homeless hostels!”.
Craig Dearden-Phillips, Social Enterprise Ambassador and author of Your Chance to Change the World, The no-fibbing guide to social entrepreneurship
Rob* first got involved with his local Aspire when he talked to his support worker in the hostel he was living in, about moving back into employment.
“I’d been out of work for about 9 years and although I wanted to work again, I was quite worried and afraid about doing that. I thought it would be difficult to get a job because of my background. I was on medication for mental health problems and because I’d been homeless and hadn’t worked for such a long time, I thought no-one would want to know.
But Aspire were great. They really helped me get back on my feet. It was difficult to adjust to working again at first but they stuck with me through a tricky patch. The flexibility was brilliant and they supported me with all kinds of things to help me keep working.
Now I’m happy staying with Aspire for the moment because I need to take my time to make sure the changes I’m making last – I’ve reduced my medication and I’ve moved into a new place. But I’d like to get a permanent job in another area so now I’m doing voluntary work in my spare time to get experience.
I’ll never not work again. I feel like a completely different person. I feel a lot more confident about the future. People treat me differently now – they have more respect for me and I feel a lot better about myself.”
Sam* is a recovering alcoholic who joined his local Aspire as part of his rehabilitation programme.
“I really wasn’t looking forward to working again when I first joined up, but it felt good and I began to look forward to going in every day.
Going straight into full time work would have been impossible for me at that time – I wouldn’t have coped and I’d have gone back to drinking. But with the support I got from Aspire, I soon began to get back into a routine and found that I could manage. They allowed me to make a few mistakes and they stuck with me when I found things tough – that made all the difference.
Now I’ve got stability and structure back into my life. I make my own decisions about my future again – I didn’t have the confidence to do that before I got back into working.
I’ve got loads of energy for work now, and I know I can handle things. That’s given me the motivation to look for a full time job.”
*Names have been changed
