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Step Up To Work - thinkFOUNDATION published their Delivery Report!9 months ago
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.
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.
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:
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:
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!
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Hope you are having a great 2020! Sorry it's been a few months since the last post. I can reassure you we have been very busy; painting floors, building a mezzanine, having a baby (not part of the spacehive pitch but an achievement all the same) creating a more safe and efficient workspace, developing our admin and mentor implementation as well as putting togther exciting partnerships. I will be adding more images of the improved workshop which is almost ready to start the first phase of our grand plan to help young people with a step into work. But first I have written a blog post via: https://medium.com/reducing-violence-in-waltham-forest/creating-opportunities-for-young-people-2afc1abcae92 The post can tell you a little more about the background of the project and what it aims to do. I will elaborate on this with a link to a website I'm creating for the foundation in the next few weeks and then we are ready to make a big impact on young people's lives and the community around us launching in the next 1-2 months. So watch this safe and thanks again for all the support!
Hope you are well. I wanted to give you an update on the cause that you have had a big hand in making happen. At present we are waiting to sign contracts with the Mayor’s team so they can release the funding that has been raised from your good shelf. Hopefully, in 2 week we will be able to make a start with the first phase of the project which is ordering in the items needed to build the infrastructure improving the workshop, making it safe and fit for purpose. In a month we hope to have this done so we can start to build the admin framework of the project, bringing together all the partnerships and relationships we have made along the campaign. I’d like to say another big thank you for your support - this really is going to make a huge impact to the community and a lot of people's lives who may have fallen through the cracks of modern life if it weren't for the opportunity we believe we can create. This is just the start so watch this space, we are building something great, something we couldn't have done without you.
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Final update on all things thinkFOUNDATION. We are just 2 days away from the end of the crowdfund campaign where with your help we have raised a remarkable £40,254. We have just 2 days to raise the last £524 to reach our target and make the foundation happen. I wanted to say a big thank you for your support and with luck by the end of the bank holiday we will have reached our target in this all or nothing fundraising campaign. www.spacehive.com/thinkfoundation I recently met Chief Commissioner of the MET Cressida Dick. Behind the scenes I've been laying the groundwork for the foundation to make a real difference. The foundation is going to be part of a plan to reduce youth violence in the area and a potential case study for further preventative initiatives in the future providing support for those at risk through training, work experience and possible employment. At the foundations core we will build on other relations we have made with the council and local orgs who work with other marginalised individuals struggling to find support and a Step Up into Work. A big thank you once again for pledges, facebook share's and tweets we really couldnt have got this far without you. Have a great weekend one and all and see you in the near future. Chris
Whoop, 150 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Total £40,772
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.
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:
Total £40,772
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VolunteerHello, I'm Chris, founder of thinkFOUND... a SME business in the Argall Industrial estate (Leyton, E10) which produces made to order tables and benches made from reclaimed wood.
Me and my team are seeking your help to set up the thinkFOUNDATION; a skills and educational program for young marginalised individuals who have fallen out of the standard educational and work path in the local the area.
thinkFOUND was born out of a love for simple, stylish furniture and a growing concern for our throw-away culture. Our inspiration draws from local innovator, William Morris; a designer, social activist and pioneering environmentalist. Morris believed human beings can transform society and themselves by the virtues of beauty and function.
thinkGREEN The wood we use comes from businesses that are getting rid of unwanted wood, which would have otherwise become landfill or burnt. At thinkFOUND, we believe in reusing discarded wood rather than purchasing new timber. We use environmentally safe, non toxic and eco friendly oils and waxes to treat and finish our furniture. Our furniture is void of toxic petrochemical pollutants and high Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).
thinkSOCIAL One of our aims for the near future is to work with various organisations building on previous work that has given young people a chance to learn new skills and valuable experience. We have in the past worked with young and disadvantaged persons of the borough - offering experience and skills in all areas of the business; design, production, marketing and running of the enterprise.
thinkFUTURE Going forward we aim to develop existing partnerships and create new relationships to progress the circular economy within the borough of Waltham Forest. We genuinely believe in William Morris’s words on Fellowship being the way forward. With this said, thinkFOUND would like to be more than just a business, we would like to develop talent and be a place where not just our business grows, but so do the people we work with.
Project Owner: thinkFOUND The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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