Breaking the Cycle The Importance of Employment Greg Walker Chief Executive - CREATE

1. Breaking the Cycle The Importance of Employment Greg Walker Chief Executive - CREATE

3. CREATE’S AIMS • ENVIRONMENTAL – To recycle / refurbish used electrical ‘white goods’ • SOCIAL - To provide affordable white goods for low income households • EMPLOYMENT - To provide work for disadvantaged adults • FINANCIAL–To be financially sustainable

4. CREATE’S RESULTS • ENVIRONMENTAL - Recycling over 2000 used ‘white goods’ per week • SOCIAL - Refurbishing and selling about 250 products per week to low income households through our own shops & other charities. • EMPLOYMENT–In 14 years we’ve moved over 450 people on to full time employment • FINANCIAL – Our core costs are met through our commercial activities, not grants

5. FINANCIAL FACTS 2008-09 - £2 million turnover - split as follows: • Recycling Contracts and Sales of Raw Materials – 24% • Sales of Refurbished Goods & Manufacturers Returns - 50% • Training & Employment Contracts - 24% • Grant Income - 2% - (In 1998 our grant income was 53% of our turnover.) We strive to make a surplus – we don't always succeed!

6. Employment / Training Contracts – What CREATE provide • Contracts from local councils enable CREATE to provide • Paid employment for 3 months at minimum wage • Individual training plan dictated by needs of individual and funds available • Relevant generic and vocational training • Job Search and interview training • Links to employers & employment agencies • Real work combined with personal support

7. Employment / Training Contracts – Primary Target Groups • Unemployed adults from the priority groups dictated by the local councils • Long term unemployed 18-24 year olds • Recovering Substance Misusers • Ex Offenders • Disadvantaged ethnic groups • Disabled adults • People on Incapacity Benefit???

8. Breaking the Cycle - Contracts versus Grants • Sustainability means contracts not grants • Targets need to be met • Reduction in flexibility • Grants can help meet social aims better

9. Breaking the Cycle - Job Creation or Moving on Some people get taken on to CREATE’s staff (43 staff – 60% ex trainees) Others will move into work with partner charities Moving on to jobs locally in vocational growth areas Increased use of placements during their contract

10. Breaking the Cycle - Hardest to Place People • CREATE does a growing amount of work with ex offenders • Partnership with HMP Liverpool, City Employment Strategy Team, • Involvement of C.I.B., Probation Service, Job Centre, Working Links • Current market place - realistically only around 25% moving on • Look for other outcomes – reduction in re-offending - training

12. Breaking the Cycle - Hints • Look to contract with councils that do the funding work for you • Develop grants alongside contracts where possible • Provide real work – not ‘scheme’ type work • Work with organisations that are there – don’t try and re-invent the wheel • Base your operation on what the local employers want • Be ideologically promiscuous - Be innovative

13. BETTER FUTURES FOR PEOPLE & PRODUCTS