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Step Up To Work - thinkFOUNDATION

Funded on Spacehive 27 August 2019 Delivered 28 February 2022

Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.

Step Up To Work - thinkFOUNDATION

Step Up To Work - thinkFOUNDATION

thinkFOUND By thinkFOUND

The ‘thinkFOUNDATION’; a specialised non-discriminatory work experience platform that will support young adults struggling to acquire the necessary skills and experience to make them work ready.

Waltham Forest Delivery stage

153
backers
£40,715
raised
funded icon
This project was funded on 27 Aug 2019!

We will provide opportunities and support to 16-24 year olds who are at risk of, or have fallen out of education or employment. This will be achieved through the foundation’s ‘Step Up To Work’ programme; to engage and train individuals in a hands on working environment within the thinkFOUND furniture making company. They will gain experience of working in all areas of a furniture making business that is both sustainable and environmentally friendly. The foundation will facilitate participants to develop a set of competencies; working with both their strengths and challenges to assist them in developing transferable skills as a way into work. They will be supported with peer support groups and individual reflection sessions by trained staff. As a result, they will be supplied with a credible and individualised reference to pass on to future employees and a set of practical tools that will set them up for work. -find out more via thinkFOUND.co.uk/thinkfoundation

What we'll deliver:

  • A non- discriminatory, safe and supportive learning space.
  • Opportunities to develop skills in wood work (sanding, oiling, table assembling, packaging)
  • Development of key work skills (e.g. time management, team work, organisation, customer service and marketing).
  • Support to complete a set of competencies demonstrating transferable work skills.
  • Trained mentors to help problem solve any challenges our service user may have
  • Weekly peer support team discussions lead by a trained facilitator monitoring any issues & providing a space to share.
  • Tailored packages to meet individual needs with varying lengths of placements.
  • A final certificate and in-depth reference to pass on to future employees.
  • Opportunities for paid employment if they excel / exceed their competencies.

Why it's a great idea:

It is our ambition to create a flagship employment programme that gives people a diverse range of transferable skills and a sense of confidence they may be lacking. We want to provide opportunities to people who may have struggled elsewhere and to support them to overcome challenges and find them areas they can excel in. We feel that this is a service that our community is lacking and hope by assisting people into employment, this will reduce risks of mental health deterioration, criminal activity, poverty and strain on well-fare. We also want to promote the importance of sustainable and environmental business. We hope the thinkFoundation can be a transferable framework to inspire other businesses in the local community to take on those who would have previously been overlooked and undervalued in the job market. Please spread the word. Don't worry if you are unable to financially support us being our champion is just as important. So come on what are you waiting for - Step Up!

Steps to get it done:

  • Spread the word and involve the community.
  • Purchase and build mezzanine.
  • Purchases tools, create workstations and prepare the workshop.
  • Finalise guidlines, duty of care and other policies and procedures.
  • Train staff and volunteers.
  • Create opening thinkFOUNDATION event.
  • Begin the 'Step Up To Work' program!

What the funding will be for: - A mezzanine above the current workshop which will provide a safe and suitable space where service users can be briefed and trained as well as being the place for groups and feedback sessions. This will also free up space on the ground floor of the workshop allowing us to create more workstations and in turn allowing us to take on more people. - To invest in more hand and power tools as well as personal protection equipment for our users in order to ensure they have the best available tools to be inline with industrial standards. - Signage and storage to provide our users with a safe environment meeting health and safety regulations. -Specialised staff experienced with working with young adults who may have come from challenging backgrounds. Additional 1-2 members of staff depending on how many participants are present. - Training and courses for relevant staff members We are passionate and determined to make this work, please spread the word!

Location Waltham Forest

About the space

Custom Location

Council

London Borough of Waltham Forest

How will the money be spent?Total £40,772

Facilitator fees/wages, £1400 per month for 6 months - £8,640 (21%)
Hammer C1 31 Combination Machine - £7,080 (17%)
TL 30 Mezzanine with L long straight stairs - £4,800 (12%)
10% continency - £4,100 (10%)
Clamps - £1,783 (4%)
Insurance - £1,261 (3%)
Festool Orbit sanders x 2 - £1,205 (3%)
Festool extraction units: - £1,178 (3%)
Electric's; Lighting & Sockets for Mezzanine - £1,000 (2%)
Racking - £962 (2%)
Other - £8,762 (21%)

Costs Breakdown

This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.

21%
Facilitator fees/wages, £1400 per month for 6 months
£8,640
17%
Hammer C1 31 Combination Machine
£7,080
12%
TL 30 Mezzanine with L long straight stairs
£4,800
10%
10% continency
£4,100
4%
Clamps
£1,783
3%
Insurance
£1,261
3%
Festool Orbit sanders x 2
£1,205
3%
Festool extraction units:
£1,178
2%
Electric's; Lighting & Sockets for Mezzanine
£1,000
2%
Racking
£962
21%
Other Read More
£8,762
  • Spacehive fees
    £1,580
  • Workbenches x 2
    £931
  • Armorgard Mobile Tuffbench
    £694
  • DeWalt Drill x 2 with 4 batteries
    £640
  • DeWalt Impact Drivers x 4
    £580
  • Fund for service user boots/safety shoes - price based on 10(pairs)x£45
    £450
  • Tools kits x 10
    £400
  • First aid training 1 person, 3 days course, 1 person 1 day course
    £346
  • Hazardous Substance Storage Cabinets
    £342
  • VAT
    £316
  • Health & Safety assessment
    £300
  • Signage
    £300
  • Pillar drill floor standing
    £290
  • PPE; Ear defenders x 10
    £274
  • DBS x 6 people £44.00 =
    £264
  • PPE; Branded Overalls 10x
    £252
  • Fire assement
    £234
  • PPE; Masks x 10
    £208
  • Transaction Fees
    £197
  • PPE; Gloves - anit vibration x 10 and chemical x 10
    £166

Overfunding

This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:

  • 1) More tools! The more the better as we can us them to help more people and tools also tend to get damaged in the learning process.
  • 2) Purchase educational books for our work experience individuals to loan and learn.
  • 3) Training days and relevant courses for addional staff.
  • 4) Purchase a larger fridge and fill it with breakfast items to avoid service users coming to work on an empty stomach which is oten the case.

Total £40,772

Our Volunteer List

We're currently looking for people to offer skills and time to develop our project! Check out the list of what we need below and then use the 'Volunteer' button to the right to get involved.

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