Lots of good A4e stories are about recognisable success, like the chap writing his name. I'd like to suggest that a lot of our successes may be real but unrecognisable, either because success isn't always instant or because it's gift-wrapped in an unexpected colour. The coffee question's like that.
I've found this attitude reassuring in years of teaching children and adults: they may or may not get the certificate you're aiming at but often the seeds you've sown will be reaped in odd ways, or years later. Fingers crossed that that's so in my current classes of offenders, sometimes moved to another prison at short notice by the Home Office.
Thirty years ago I was a VSO English teacher in Papua New Guinea. (Please don't think "cannibal" stereotype -- just ordinary kind people). A year after I got back, one of my Sixth Form students wrote me a chatty 2-page letter. Bottom of page one: "We were pleased that you were our teacher, because you . . ." I turned the page with eager anticipation: was it lucid grammar teaching or attempts to inspire them with poetry that they valued? Page two: ". . . danced in our village." Pardon? The memory came back of a thatched village one evening where I'd accepted the invitation to join a traditional circle dance. Afterwards, several villagers said no European had ever been willing to have a go before then. Still don't know whether my English teaching was any good but I'm really proud that this young woman was pleased with my dancing.
Ann Hinchliffe, OLASS, HMP Erlestoke and Dorchester
Friday, 13 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
My A4e - Mark Feegan
My blog is about one of our clients here in Warrington, called Tanya White who was on the Programme Centre Course.
Tanya started with us on the 10/03/08 and from the first day of her arrival she knew she wanted to work in the catering industry.
At the time there were no catering jobs available so Tanya agreed, and was very keen to gain experience dealing with customers and so she therefore took a placement at Scope in Warrington. During the time that Tanya was attending her placement I approached the Manager at TJ Hughes cafe in Warrington and told him about Tanya and we both agreed to give her a trail period with them.
Whilst Tanya was working with TJ Hughes she received some very distressing news regarding a family member and therefore had to take time off her placement due to this. Even though Tanya had personal issue to deal with she still found time to call in to keep us informed of her situation, which we then passed this on to her placement on a daily basis.
When Tanya was able to return to the placement we helped and supported her and it wasn’t long before Tanya informed us that she had gained full time employment!
I cant begin to tell you how this made me, as a Recruiter feel proud of what we do! We had just helped a client who had gone through such a traumatic time, gaining employment in a field that she wanted to be in and we really did improve her life!
I went to meet with the Manager at TJ Hughes to finalise things and the comments about the service we provide was fantastic " I think what A4e do is so supportive and rewarding’ and “ I have never worked with a company that shows so much help, and put the customer at the heart of everything they do and it's great to see!"
Knowing that what we really does make such a difference is so rewarding!
Tanya started with us on the 10/03/08 and from the first day of her arrival she knew she wanted to work in the catering industry.
At the time there were no catering jobs available so Tanya agreed, and was very keen to gain experience dealing with customers and so she therefore took a placement at Scope in Warrington. During the time that Tanya was attending her placement I approached the Manager at TJ Hughes cafe in Warrington and told him about Tanya and we both agreed to give her a trail period with them.
Whilst Tanya was working with TJ Hughes she received some very distressing news regarding a family member and therefore had to take time off her placement due to this. Even though Tanya had personal issue to deal with she still found time to call in to keep us informed of her situation, which we then passed this on to her placement on a daily basis.
When Tanya was able to return to the placement we helped and supported her and it wasn’t long before Tanya informed us that she had gained full time employment!
I cant begin to tell you how this made me, as a Recruiter feel proud of what we do! We had just helped a client who had gone through such a traumatic time, gaining employment in a field that she wanted to be in and we really did improve her life!
I went to meet with the Manager at TJ Hughes to finalise things and the comments about the service we provide was fantastic " I think what A4e do is so supportive and rewarding’ and “ I have never worked with a company that shows so much help, and put the customer at the heart of everything they do and it's great to see!"
Knowing that what we really does make such a difference is so rewarding!
Friday, 6 June 2008
My A4e - Deborah Waite
Hi,
my name’s Deborah Waite and I’m Mark Lovell’s Assistant – I have been for the past 9 years.
Throughout the nineties I worked in share registration for a high street bank. When it came to a time for change, I really wanted to do something different – and A4e looked very different.
I attended an interview with Mark, during which he spoke at me for the majority of the time – I couldn’t get a word in edgeways (no change there!).
I thought the company sounded great & he was an interesting fella, but as I hadn’t had chance to say much, I didn’t think much would come of my brief time there. However, a second interview followed, with a chance to meet a few more great staff and I was in – Head Office Administration Manager at Bessemer Road.
The first day was a bit of a blur, loads or new names and faces and a lot of information to take on board – as with any new job.
The second day (don’t worry I’m not going to go through the whole nine years day by day) involved a trip to an office – Doncaster, my home town!
On arrival I was greeted by some great, friendly welcoming people and invited to sit in on a training session. Being the new girl, I was listening intently to what the tutor was saying, but kept getting distracted by a middle aged man who was becoming increasingly agitated at the back of the classroom. Having been brought up in a small village, I’d led quite a protected life. From my protected little bubble, this behaviour just seemed rude to me – to be honest, this man was getting on my nerves. The tutor had to stop what he was doing because the man at the back was getting so excited. On being asked what the matter was, the man proudly announced that he had written his name – for the first time!!! He was in his 50s – I was amazed & quickly succumbed to tears.
There’d been a high level of education expected of me throughout my upbringing – in fact it was taken for granted – in my naivety I couldn’t believe someone could reach adulthood not being able to read.
At that moment I ‘got’ A4e – wow!
This man considered himself to be on the scrapheap when he’d been made redundant from his job sweeping floors – he hadn’t been able to help himself, as he couldn’t read or write. He’d been made to feel welcome and worthwhile by A4e and he’d learned how to write his name – the thought of his giddiness can still bring tears to my eyes.
This is what we do day after day – step by step overcoming the barriers people face to social inclusion. Mark and the rest of the senior team are a demanding bunch to work with, always striving for new & better ways to improve people’s lives around the world – and thanks to that man in Doncaster, I totally understand why!
Deborah Waite
my name’s Deborah Waite and I’m Mark Lovell’s Assistant – I have been for the past 9 years.
Throughout the nineties I worked in share registration for a high street bank. When it came to a time for change, I really wanted to do something different – and A4e looked very different.
I attended an interview with Mark, during which he spoke at me for the majority of the time – I couldn’t get a word in edgeways (no change there!).
I thought the company sounded great & he was an interesting fella, but as I hadn’t had chance to say much, I didn’t think much would come of my brief time there. However, a second interview followed, with a chance to meet a few more great staff and I was in – Head Office Administration Manager at Bessemer Road.
The first day was a bit of a blur, loads or new names and faces and a lot of information to take on board – as with any new job.
The second day (don’t worry I’m not going to go through the whole nine years day by day) involved a trip to an office – Doncaster, my home town!
On arrival I was greeted by some great, friendly welcoming people and invited to sit in on a training session. Being the new girl, I was listening intently to what the tutor was saying, but kept getting distracted by a middle aged man who was becoming increasingly agitated at the back of the classroom. Having been brought up in a small village, I’d led quite a protected life. From my protected little bubble, this behaviour just seemed rude to me – to be honest, this man was getting on my nerves. The tutor had to stop what he was doing because the man at the back was getting so excited. On being asked what the matter was, the man proudly announced that he had written his name – for the first time!!! He was in his 50s – I was amazed & quickly succumbed to tears.
There’d been a high level of education expected of me throughout my upbringing – in fact it was taken for granted – in my naivety I couldn’t believe someone could reach adulthood not being able to read.
At that moment I ‘got’ A4e – wow!
This man considered himself to be on the scrapheap when he’d been made redundant from his job sweeping floors – he hadn’t been able to help himself, as he couldn’t read or write. He’d been made to feel welcome and worthwhile by A4e and he’d learned how to write his name – the thought of his giddiness can still bring tears to my eyes.
This is what we do day after day – step by step overcoming the barriers people face to social inclusion. Mark and the rest of the senior team are a demanding bunch to work with, always striving for new & better ways to improve people’s lives around the world – and thanks to that man in Doncaster, I totally understand why!
Deborah Waite
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