Take A Chance On Me - Helps people into employment - Eastern Daily Press - June 1st
‘Take A Chance On Me‘ helps employers find suitable candidates for face to face interviews for their employment and volunteering positions.
Who we are..
We have been established since 2017 and have run a range of projects aimed at helping people through challenging circumstances. During Covid we set up a food bank and distributed over 52000 food parcels and essential items to people in need across Norfolk and Waveney. Our Christmas Stocking Campaign has filled and distributed over 8000 Christmas Stockings to people in need over the last 5 years, with Aviva Employees kindly taking volunteering days to support. We have cleared 3 Sundown Festivals of tents and sleeping bags etc and have distributed over 1000 items to homeless people, support groups, providing emergency support. We also created and run ‘Football Against Dementia’ which was a beneficiary of a previous fantastic Aviva Community Fund round.
Aviva Volunteers helping with The Christmas Stocking Campaign
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME IS FOR ANY PERSON OR BUSINESS LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYEE OR JOB
Our new project builds on our experience of working with people who are going through difficult times. We have seen first hand and understand the frustration of people who really want the opportunity of work but just don’t get the opportunity of face to face interviews. Our mission is to work with businesses and jobseekers and when appropriate, arranging face to face interviews…and it works !
Early this year we received a donation of around 400 business suits from Slater Menswear in Norwich. We loan jobseekers these suits, shoes etc for interviews, if they are successful, they keep the clothing. Slaters have worked with us over the years on other employment initiatives, for which we are very grateful. (We are currently looking for a female retailer to work with on similar lines, or donations of suitable ladies interview clothing, shoes etc.)
Slater Menswear Norwich with some of the donated suits
Mike - before and after - He got the job !
We began trialing the initiative at the beginning of June this year, we kindly received two small donations from local businesses which enabled us to create a website https://takeachanceonme.org/ and purchase some leaflets and then we set about helping people.
Case Study
Leroy has started work with Asda on 8th June. He has not had a job for 22 years, never wore a suit, and hadn’t had an interview. We met Leroy a week earlier, he had just been released from prison and had no money or food. We supplied Leroy with Food Parcels, Toiletries, Socks, Pants and other essentials. Whilst talking to Leroy it was clear he wanted to work, but didnt see anyway ahead. We talked about what he would like to do, then spoke with the employer to see if they had any suitable positions. They did, we recommended Leroy for interview, gave him his first suit (which he can now keep), offered him a free interview haircut, coached him on interview techniques, built his confidence, and dropped him off for the interview….He got the job !…He was over the moon..As are we..The most important thing for us is that the employer said ‘He was suitable for interview’..this means we have said the business the time and cost involved in recruitment…and they have employed someone they have said ‘they would not have interviewed‘….Take A Chance On Me is all about helping employers give an opportunity to people who may fall through the net.
What we do..
We network with businesses and help them find suitable candidates for face to face interviews. This tends to be entry level positions, but not exclusively. Our previous projects have secured jobs in GP Surgeries, reception, hospitality, factory, warehouses, retail..we will work with any sector. Businesses can register on our website.
Jobseekers are also able to register on our website. We will currently provide tailored coaching, food and essential parcels, interview clothing, interview haircuts and group employer led sessions (this will be coming soon). We work closely with GPs and other support agencies and regularly refer people for additional support if required.
We do not send candidates for interviews who we feel are not suitable for that positions…our reputation is based on the employer saying ‘the candidate was suitable for interview’..irrespective of whether or not the are offered the position.
Our initiative is not jus for unemployed people, we understand people may need to find extra work, adjust work patterns or even just change job…all we ask is you consider ‘Taking A Chance’ on us.
We are a social enterprise, we do not charge for our service. We rely on volunteers, funding and donations.
Aviva Community Fund
On a personal note…
I would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to the Aviva Community Fund and everyone at Aviva. I have run this Community Interest Company for 6 years. It has been the most challenging thing I have ever done. I know we have helped a lot of people and gone through many challenges. Being part of the fund has quite frankly, kept us going, we would not be here today without your support over the years. Also, the Aviva Volunteers who have supported us have been magnificent and hopefully seen the difference our work makes. Thank You Aviva.
Trevor Saunders