HELL extends paid training for intellectually disabled youth

HELL extends paid training for intellectually disabled youth

HELL has extended its paid work experience programme ‘Active in HELL’ for another full year and is keen for more young Kiwis to be involved.

The pizza company teamed up with IHC to launch the scheme in 2013. After a successful pilot in Wellington, HELL committed to paying 64 trainees for six weeks of specialised training in its kitchens around the country.

HELL has repeated that commitment for 2016 – and with one participant this year having been offered permanent employment in one of its stores, general manager Ben Cumming hopes to see a big increase in numbers enrolled in the programme.

Video: See Active in HELL trainees in action

“To date we have had 33 young people in stores from Auckland to Dunedin, and we have plenty of enthusiastic franchisees willing to be involved,” said Ben. “Reports from those who have already taken part have been nothing but positive.

“Active in HELL is about giving these young people a chance in a commercial kitchen and exposing them to skills relevant for hospitality roles while getting paid. We’re looking forward to building on our progress and maximising the programme’s potential.”

Comprising of two two-hour sessions per week, the paid training is tailored to each participant and covers everything from mandatory health and safety education to preparing food for sale.

Krissy Gain, supported employment coordinator for IHC’s IDEA Services and national coordinator of Active in HELL, described the offer of paid training as “an amazing and exciting opportunity”.

“Like any other teenager, those with an intellectual disability need some support to transition from school or college to the workforce,” said Krissy.“Participants also gain skills that many of us take for granted, such as time management, planning travel, keeping uniforms clean, and overall personal responsibility.”

Upper Hutt resident Janiece Pollock has always wanted to work in hospitality and is the first Active in HELL participant to have been offered the opportunity to continue her development with a permanent shift at her local HELL store.

“I am so pleased for Janiece and extremely proud of her,” said Krissy. “Since Active in Hell is a training programme which provides our service users with a foundation for furthering their chances of finding work, it was wonderful that Janiece was able to continue her employment journey within the HELL family.”

Last year an Active in HELL participant from Auckland gained permanent employment in the food services industry, while a number of others have opted to continue training beyond the Active in HELL programme.

HELL stores that have trained AIH candidates:

Epsom, Grey Lynn (x2), Kapiti (x3), Mount Albert, New Plymouth (x2), Newlands, Petone (x2), Riccarton, Rotorua, Upper Hutt, Westgate (x2)

HELL stores that are training AIH candidates:

Beerescourt (x2), Hastings, Lower Hutt, Napier, Nelson, Newlands, Papamoa, Petone, Rangiora, Rotorua, Whangaparaoa

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