Christopher has wanted to work in a café that is local to him for many years. He has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and has volunteered in cafes for years but always struggled to take the step into paid employment.
When Christopher was referred to our Wakefield LSE project he had already been through various different employment agencies and support with no success and was starting to feel extremely deflated in his job search and hopes for the future.
Our keyworker began working with Christopher on transferrable skills and identifying environments where he could develop these abilities. This process enabled Christopher to recognise the value he brings to the workplace, increasing his self esteem and giving him renewed confidence in his job search.
We supported Christopher to present his CV to local cafes, which significantly increased his confidence and visibility. Through this process Christopher was able to secure a placement at a local museum café, where we worked with the venue to develop specific skills such as barista work and till work.
Christopher`s confidence grew over the weeks and when a paid role came up, we supported him to apply and he was delighted when he was successful in his application.
“I am so thankful for actually getting a paid job for once”
Christopher has successfully sustained his role now for over a year and has developed further in his skills and confidence. He loves working with the customers and learning different aspects of the role and we are delighted to have been able to be part of his journey. Our team continue to check in with Christopher to ensure that he is able to overcome any barriers he has at work and provide ongoing guidance to his employer where needed.
“We are so delighted to have been part of Christopher`s journey. I personally supported Christopher for a period of time and could see how low he was feeling about his job search after years of no success. To see him settled and happy at work is why we do what we do. Christopher has worked hard for this and we are so proud of him”
