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