Since 2000 Freshfields have supported a range of programmes designed to equip people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills they need to gain and sustain employment. The aim of their homelessness initiatives is to break the cycle of homelessness and reintegrate homeless people into society. They do this mainly through a mixture of work experience, job coaching and informal support schemes.
Central to their programme is ‘Ready for Work’ which offers two-week work placements to homeless people. The main aim of the programme is to provide people with the opportunity to learn essential employability skills, enabling them to enter the job market and consequently achieve independent living.
They have tailored Ready for Work to suit the business needs and complexities of an international law firm that traditionally didn’t offer work experience other than to those interested in being a lawyer. They have built up partnerships with eight homelessness organisations, working closely with them to meet their objectives and provide suitable work placements for their clients.
Their programme is designed their programme specifically to offer as many high quality placements as possible, and involves a significant number of their staff in the process (around 30 each year).
The objectives of the programme are to help remove the barriers to work that people who are in homeless situations face, especially a lack of confidence, motivation, and support; gaps in CV / long-term unemployment; and no suitable clothing or access to washing facilities.
This is done by providing placements that are relevant to the individual's skills and interests, and trained buddies during the placement. After the placements, participants are able to update their CVs, and are provided with references to help with their job search; many are also given mentors who continue to provide support.
The placement process begins at quarterly ‘open afternoons’ for potential work candidates, referred to us by their community partners, which enable homeless individuals to find out more about the organization, the placements on offer, and to participate in informal interviews.
For successful candidates, formal interviews are arranged with the placement managers and the volunteer buddy. The buddy is responsible for devising a programme of activity for the candidate that incorporates learning the key skills required for the role. Placement candidates also receive IT training, like all our new joiners.
The programme has helped to develop their own staff by allowing volunteers to enhance personal and professional skills such as communication, leadership and people management. With many of the volunteers gaining valuable and transferable skills that wil help their career development.
