Volunteering Project, Graffiti Mural : Salvation Army ( Willow House), December 2014:
This was an opportunity as part of Enactus Reading; a volunteering society within the University’s Student Union focussing on developing student-led projects to help tackle issues in the local community.
The mural was part of their “Re-Fresh” project, where the established a relationship with the Salvation Army hostel in order to help improve the well-being and employability of their beneficiaries.
The clients and supervisors at the Salvation Army were looking to create an indoor graffiti mural at their hostel which could encapsulate the wealth of diversity and opportunity within the Reading community. It gave me the chance to develop my existing skills as a painter , but also an opportunity to engage with the beneficiaries and allow them to contribute to the painting too.
The Re-Fresh project is currently in the process of planning and developing a new (non-commercial) project called "The Employability Program." This project's aim is to help individuals living in non-permanent housing and out of work (beneficiary) to have the opportunity of an interview with a local business ultimately leading them to employment. It is created to reflect the needs of the beneficiary and the skill set employers require for individuals to work for them. We plan on offering beneficiaries the chance to build these skills through a number of modules/skills sessions we could offer such as:
*Sales experience: assistance with bake sales.
*Commercial awareness: skill session to provide lessons on the basic structure of many organisations.
*Confidence Building: an example could include handing out leaflets for charity, showing confidence and social interaction.
*IT Skills: Basic use of a PC, Microsoft office, emails and web browsing.
In order for this project to thrive, we need to be in regular contact with the beneficiaries that are in need of these employability skills; those who essentially need our help. Furthermore we are working endlessly to get a project partner who will work with us on this idea. Currently we are in talks with Reading Voluntary Action and other local charities in order to finalise the project idea. We aim to have assisted at least one individual in the journey to employment by the end of the 2014-2015 academic year.
http://enactusreading.com/ourProjects/re-fresh