Case Study: Supporting the Next Step to Employment with the Parchment Trust

Dan Raymond

March 24, 2023

3 min read

In 2022, High Speed Training supplied a batch of Level 2 Food Hygiene courses to the Parchment Trust, a charity serving people with Autism, learning and physical disabilities based on the South East coast.

The charity runs a number of services, including a horticultural nursery which is open to the public and run by the members it supports, education and leisure services and a supported employment scheme.

The employment scheme aims to secure paid employment for their members in local businesses. A popular vocational route among their members is employment in the catering trade. As part of our commitment to help people from underserved communities to access work, we provided a number of Level 2 Food Hygiene Courses to help their members learn new skills and take that next step into employment.

In October 2022, Jack, aged 34, completed his L2 Food Hygiene course, shortly after, he was able to start a paid placement at a local care home, working 6 hours a week in a pop up coffee shop in the garden, serving residents tea, coffee and cake.

Jack really blossomed in the role, and before long, he was asking to take on more responsibility, and showed a desire to work in the main kitchen at the care home.

Jack’s hours were increased to 18 hours a week, and he began to work in the main kitchen, preparing meals for the residents.

Now, Jack is working 24 hours a week at the home, and no longer requires the support of the Parchment Trust.

High Speed Training has also supplied the Parchment Trust with a Care Certificate course to assist Jack on his career path at the home.

We are so thrilled for Jack, and proud of the progress that he has made. We are sad to see him go but we are really pleased, it’s a real success story.

Jack previously also worked alongside a caretaker at a local school, but he has given that up to focus on his passion. His dad is also a chef so it’s great to see him progressing so well.

He has absolutely flown since starting there. He’s taken off and done so well.

Heather Knoll, Employment Coach at the Parchment Trust

My experience at Elizabeth Court has been brilliant. I was nervous at first, but I’ve had a lot of support from the team and from my supervisor. Now, instead of waiting to be told what to do, I’m able to ask what I need to do next.

I help to get the lunches ready, I help prepare the vegetables and chop them to the correct size for cooking and I also help with making cakes and icing them.

Working and having a job has given me independence and has helped me to get back into a busy routine, where I get to meet new people. I enjoy getting along with new staff.

Also, I enjoy learning new skills. I learn something new every day. Having a job helps me to save money, so I have more money to go out, book a holiday and do more things.

Jack

To find out more about the Parchment Trust and their vital work, you can visit their website at https://www.parchment-trust.org.uk/.