Up the Junction

Pictured above: Samia, Andy and Carole from the Hackney Team

 

After decades of being marooned in Saaarf Laahdaan – on accessible via the weary chug, chug of the bus from Elephant or Oval tube -we’re happy to have a growing presence the other side of the river. Right near up’n’coming Dalston Junction - a hop, skip and jump from the Overground too!  

In a nutshell, the service was established following the transfer of funding from east London ex-offenders support organisation FTC to St Giles Trust back in March.   Staff who worked at FTC have transferred to St Giles Trust.  The team comprise a mix of paid staff and former client volunteers. 

The service has a strong focus on getting people held back by a criminal record ready for the job market though also assists with other areas such as housing. Help is available with CV writing, job searches, motivational skills, disclosure and other issues such as money management, sustaining tenancies and sexual health.

Each client undergoes a one-to-one assessment on referral to the service and benefits from a specially tailored action plan.  The Centre is open Monday to Friday, five days a week with Wednesday afternoons ring-fenced for female clients only.

We all make mistakes and bad judgements.  Sometimes these result in a criminal record which in turn can prevent some of the most capable, employable people from moving their lives forward.  As the following story demonstrates.

On the day we visited we met 39-year old S, who first came into contact with the service after a fruitless job search.  Not long ago, the mother of five had a bright future ahead of her qualifying to become an Occupational Therapist at university and working part-time.  Her world fell apart when a spell of working whilst claiming benefits from several years ago unexpectedly caught up with her. Convicted of fraud, she was forced to leave her job and her course. 

This had emotional as well as practical consequences for S.  She says: “Since being forced to leave university in January 2012 I’ve searched for countless jobs but with no success. I’ve had so many doors closed in my face.  I’ve got five children to support and I struggled to keep up a positive persona at home and be a role model.   Everything before was about work, work, work.  It was actually the period of work I did whilst on benefits which spurred me to get a job, go to Uni and leave benefits.”   

Through Working Chance, S learned about the Advice and Guidance qualification on offer at Hackney and signed up.  

She is incredibly motivated - investing a lot of time and effort into her skills development, gaining PTTLs, two other NVQs and qualifying as an assessor. She says, “I made a terrible mistake and I’d never do it again.  I just want to move on.  I want to advocate for people with criminal convictions and make sure people get the right advice.”  

She is hoping to once again go to university in September to qualify as a teacher.  In the meantime, she is volunteering as a Peer Advisor at Hackney whilst looking for work.  We wish her all the best!

The office where they are based had to undergo a bit of a Grand Designs-style makeover before it could be fit for purpose.  Helping out with this and in the day-to-day running is 35-year old Andy, who describes himself as ‘an unofficial volunteer’.  Despite not having any criminal convictions (“though I’m no stranger to the inside of a cell”, he says) the small matter of having his life turned upside down through a period of street homelessness means he is using the team’s support.   

This time last year, Andy was living in a bus shelter after the breakdown of his relationship.   He is now resident in a nearby hostel and uses the centre’s computer equipment for help seeking work and re-establishing the relationship with his 11-year old daughter with whom he has recently made email contact. 

A chef by trade, Andy recently did a week of paid work at the Chelsea Flower Show and is now looking for the next suitable opportunity, having registered with a catering a catering agency. In the meantime, he is literally Handy Andy of St Giles Hackney.  “If something needs moving, I’ll do it. If someone is sat at a desk and doesn’t know how to get on to a computer, I’ll show them.  Basically, if it involves blood, sweat and tears, I’ll do it!”

Andy’s next step alongside looking for work is to further progress contact with his daughter.  Asked what support he’s had from Hackney, the languid Londoner – who is clearly regarded with great affection by the team – says: “You need someone to believe in you, you need someone to give you guidance.”  

Contact St Giles Trust Hackney – tel: 020 7923 7062, The Elise Centre, 24-30 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ