The Volunteering Award Shortlist

Stockton Group Homeless Team, HM Revenue & Customs

The Stages Academy is a homeless hostel based in Middlesbrough. Using the time given by HMRC to undertake volunteering, we have established a two-week work placement scheme to give a varied group of people, who had fallen into the cycle of homelessness, an opportunity to undertake an office-based placement, aiming to build confidence and competences to enable their entry back into the UK workforce.

The team of staff who have proactively embraced our Homeless project is led by Heather Gallagher. In each case this team has worked closely with their placement, encouraging and coaching them to achieve their objectives. Each person on the team plays a part, whether as main buddy or the buddy on a particular task, or as CV mentor or the induction and clerical back up. Everyone is involved in the final day after action review, and then delights in the presentation and lunch (paid for out of their own pockets) they provide for the placement. Each person understands that this is a project where the main focus is the placement and ensures that each individual gets a positive experience from their time at Stockton Group.

We have completed 26 placements to date. Recognising the need to extend our community involvement we are now able to offer placements to Princes Trust Volunteers using the same package.