We’re delighted to share a HELLishly good reason for celebration – HELL Pizza’s Active in HELL (AiH) training programme for young people with intellectual disabilities has graduated its 200th trainee!
The graduate, 21-year-old Grace McCaffley from Wellington, joins the huge number of young Kiwis from across the country, who have benefitted from HELL’s award-winning scheme.
Active in HELL is a paid training programme run through HELL stores throughout New Zealand, with support from Choices NZ (part of the IHC Group). It teaches young adults with intellectual disabilities the practical skills required to thrive in a commercial kitchen, as well as the independence of having a job and responsibility of working as part of a team.
The first AiH trainee graduated in 2013 and, during its course, the programme has opened the doors for young Kiwis through the can-do attitudes and collaborative efforts of Choices NZ coordinators and HELL franchisees throughout the country.
HELL’s 200th Active in HELL graduate!
Grace says she felt like a different person after graduating from her 12-week placement at HELL Petone.
“I loved it at HELL!” said Grace. “On my last shift, I told them I wanted to be stapled to the wall because I didn’t want to leave!
“It’s the first time I’ve been paid for work, which felt great. It made me really happy to help my mum out with food shopping and stuff like that. It also gave me new independence and confidence.”
Grace’s Choices NZ Coordinator Angela Christoffersen said AiH has played a key role in Grace’s development.
“Her confidence has improved hugely, especially in relation to those in positions of power at work. By the end of her training, when she finished a task, she’d feel very comfortable in asking for a new one instead of just standing around waiting for the next instruction.
“Confidence in front of employers is huge, especially as she starts to interview for positions in the future.”
Beating Catch-22
“The goal of AiH has always been to help circumvent the Catch-22 situation that many job seekers find themselves in,” explained Choices NZ’s Active in HELL National Coordinator Krissy Gain.
“Many of our trainees can’t get a job because they don’t have experience – but they can’t get the experience they need because not very many employers are willing or able to give it to them.
“Thanks to AiH, our trainees now have the experience and a reference to provide to prospective employers. AiH is also instrumental in helping our trainees to improve their self-esteem and confidence, be more independent and learn how to take responsibility.
“AiH also helps a lot of trainees to advocate for themselves, which is a crucial skill to learn as they enter the job market. At the start of training, they might not feel comfortable asking for clarification or for instructions to be repeated but, by the end of it, most trainees will speak up for themselves and ask questions.”
Petone store franchisee Pritesh Patel said employing an AiH trainee is a mutually beneficial experience.
“We teach our trainees all the skills they need to be successful in the role, and they enrich the experience of our own team. It helps us become better trainers and bosses because we’re more aware that people don’t always learn the same way, and our team gets used to working with people who have different personalities.”
Lending a helping hand
HELL CEO Josh Drake said that AiH aligns with the company’s ethos of supporting young Kiwis who need a helping hand.
“HELL has always looked at ways to support those who others might overlook. For example, we have supported over 500 young people in need thanks to our Satan’s Little Helper programme, which aims to help out kids going through a tough time,” said Drake.
“Back in 2013, when we developed the programme with IHC, we saw AiH as the perfect opportunity to share our kitchens and expertise in support of a great cause,” he said.
“We also recognised that the paid aspect was a big part in providing trainees an experience of financial independence.
“All credit must go to the 200 individuals, who have challenged themselves to try something new, and to our store franchisees and their incredible teams, who have made this initiative such a success, not to mention the critical support from Krissy from Choices NZ and IHC.”
What the graduates say
“It was good to see how a business is run, especially how the manager buys in all the ingredients and plans the day ahead. I think it’ll really help me reach my dream of running my own business one day.” – Ethan French, AiH graduate, HELL Wellington Cuba Street
“I really enjoyed the experience and had a great time learning how to make up the pizza boxes, oiling the pans and refilling all the different sauces. Everyone there was really nice and friendly, they made me feel very welcome. Thank you the everyone for making this work experience at HELL possible for me.” – Aden Young, AiH Graduate, HELL Wellington Petone
“It made me feel like kitchen hand work is something that I could do in the future. I also like that the work was enjoyable and the kitchen was a positive, supportive environment for me.” – Michael Toms, AiH Graduate, HELL Christchurch Bishopdale
“I was so proud when I got my first paycheck! I can now help out my parents and chip in with my fair share, which I really want to do, as family is really important to me.” – Alex Flutey-Rowe, AiH Graduate, HELL Mana
What the franchisees say
“We understand it can be hard to find a job, so having the trainees through helps support their independence and build their confidence. The trainees’ enthusiasm for learning and their work ethic has also set a good example for other team members.” – Hamish Dua, HELL South Dunedin
“As time goes by, I’ve seen the trainees open up and become more comfortable in this new environment. It can be amazing seeing how they change as their personalities start to shine through. It has given me and my team so much fulfilment to be involved with these kids.” – Marty Richards, HELL Grey Lynn
Active in HELL overview
Active in HELL is a partnership between HELL and Choices NZ (part of the IHC Group, which is the leading service provider for people with intellectual disabilities).
The initiative provides young adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to learn key vocational skills and vital independence through being paid for their training in HELL store kitchens around the country.
The paid training programme consists of 12 two-hour shifts, in which participants learn everything from food safety to how to create a devilishly good pizza.
Running since 2013, Active in HELL recently surpassed 200 graduates and in 2016 won the Diversability Award at the New Zealand Diversity Awards. The Diversability Award is presented to businesses that use innovation to create employment opportunities for differently abled people, including those with physical and mental health conditions.
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