The sandwich with a social conscience

SANDWICHES aren’t normally associated with helping to turn lives around.

But since The Sandwich People started in 2008, more than 50 people have been helped back into employment thanks to the volunteering opportunities it provides.

Most of the volunteers are either current or former residents at Booth House, a Salvation Army centre for homeless people in the town centre.

The Sandwich People, which is a social enterprise, sees the team making and delivering a variety of breakfast and lunch options, including baguettes, sandwiches, salads and buffet platters, which help them gain skills and qualifications for future jobs.

People who have volunteered at The Sandwich People have moved into jobs in catering, care work, construction and retail.

Programme coordinator for social enterprise at Booth House, Liz Osborne, said: “Our aim is to move people back to independent living.

“By building people’s confidence and giving them skills and a feeling of self worth, that helps to move people on and get them back into employment and back into independent living.

“To see people actually turn their lives around is fantastic. We provide the opportunities and the environment but it’s actually the team members who do it.”

The Sandwich People started in 2008 with the aim of providing work and qualification opportunities.

It works in partnership with local training providers, including Swindon College, New College and Invensis.

And thanks to these training providers, the volunteers take part in professionally accredited food handling training and have the opportunity to be assessed for an NVQ 2 in customer service.

They are also given access to a range of other work focussed training and learning opportunities including a sales training course developed by Zurich especially for The Sandwich People.

“It’s a training package. We have different people each day – we don’t exclude anybody. If somebody is a resident with us and they want to get involved we will find something for them to do,” said Liz.

“It’s very much also about using the skills that people have already got when they come to us too.

“We have got people who when they first came in wouldn’t speak to anyone.

“We have seen huge transformations in confidence and an increase in their interest in getting involved within the community. Some of them have moved employment, other volunteering opportunities and some of them have continued volunteering with us after they have left.”

There are normally four people out delivering sandwiches from Monday to Friday and five or six people working in the kitchen.

The team make about 400 sandwiches a week for small and large companies across the town, including offices, dentists and training organisations.

The also make sandwiches for individuals, parties and events.

“We focus on quality, reliability and value for money. We are in our seventh year now and those priorities haven’t changed,” said Liz.

Among the volunteers at Booth House is 38-year-old Trevor, who was at Booth House for two years from 2009, and returned in January 2013.

Trevor, who has formerly worked as a pub manager and also as an engineer, said Booth House and The Sandwich People have helped to get his life back on track.

“When I first arrived at Booth House, I was very emotional. For the first couple of months I didn’t speak to anyone because I was paranoid,” he said.

“A few months after I arrived, I started with The Sandwich People. I stood in the corner making fruit salads for a couple of weeks and gradually became more confident.

“What really helped was hearing other people’s stories. One guy was in a worse state than me but he had a smile on his face and carried on.

“I have worked in kitchens before but I didn’t have the confidence. I couldn’t even speak. I wasn’t in touch with family because I couldn’t speak to them – I was so paranoid.

“The Sandwich People helped me get better and interact with people. I have gained qualifications and worked my way up. They even asked me to be a supervisor. I didn’t want to do it at first but Liz said it would be good for me and it really was.

“Before I came to Booth House, I was so close to the edge. I always say Booth House helped save my life. The give you the platform and, with their help, I did it.

“Having a bed was fantastic but the social enterprise pushes you on to that next level of meeting and interacting with people. I will never forget it.”

Trevor said it has been amazing to see The Sandwich People progress over the years from a small sandwich round to the round they do now with the addition of buffets and parties.

Trevor is hoping to work in engineering again when he leaves Booth House.

The Sandwich People also helped fellow volunteer, Chris, 27, get his confidence back.

“I worked in kitchens before but this has got my confidence up and brought back the skills I used to have,” he said.

“I’m hoping now to get accommodation and go into a full-time job, possibly in catering. I enjoy being part of a team and there is a good atmosphere at The Sandwich People. I like learning new things too.”

Brian, 49, formerly lived at Booth House for three months but now lives in Rodbourne. He continues to volunteer for The Sandwich People.

Brian, who formerly did labouring work, has just completed a course on forklifts and is now looking for labouring or kitchen work.

“I thought everyone knew how to make sandwiches but it’s not as easy as it looks,” he said.

“They have just made me up to a supervisor and I come here every morning. I am going to carry on until I get a job – I want to carry on because it gets me out of bed in the mornings. I enjoy the camaraderie too.”

Forty-six year-old Sam said she enjoys being part of the team at The Sandwich People.

She previously lived on the street for a couple of months before she arrived at Booth House.

“The Sandwich People has given me a lot of achievement. I had never worked in a kitchen before,” she said.

“I enjoy going to the kitchen in the morning and talking to people.”

The Sandwich People’s menu is available at www.thesandwichpeople. co.uk. To get in touch, call 01793 401830 or email hello@thesandwichpeople.co.uk.