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People at CheckIn

Here are the stories of some of the people that work with us.
Sara

I am currently in my third year of a social work degree at Dundee University and have been given the opportunity
to carry out my first assessed practice with CheckIn and Giraffe. I have little knowledge and experience in this
field and have seen through my first few weeks how this agency supports individuals and groups to gain skills and
confidence to progress towards employment. I am looking forward to being involved with both CheckIn  and Giraffe in
the weeks to come.
 
Shona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shona who retired early due to ill health has been a volunteer with Giraffe since 2009.

Last year she undertook the Buddie course which she would highly recommend to all volunteers. The course has enabled her to better support people referred to check-in.

Shona and Mae ran a cooking group together which allowed the group to try out new recipes, at first Mae and Shona chose but within weeks the group members were deciding what to make and were responsible for purchasing the ingredients.

Shona has varied interests in addition to Giraffe and is at present enjoying feeling well after several years of illness,
 
Zak

Zak Minto

"I'm Zak and I am 17 years of age and currently attending Dundee College where I am studying computer games design.

I heard about CheckIn/Giraffee from a friend of my mother's and after meeting James Alexander, joined as a member carrying out volunteer duties at The Cafe on the Green at South Inch, Perth where I did a variety of work such as looking after the Crazy Golf area, helping out at the cafe and using the till. I also helped out at the Kinnoull Hill cafe until it closed for the season in September.

Being with Giraffe has given me the chance to interact with other job-seekers and the public - something I have really enjoyed......and I get paid, too. Working with others has helped me a lot and I have learned so may new skills."
 
Ian

Ian McCandless is 21 and has just completed a sports course at Perth College gaining his certificate which he hopes to use to find work in that field in the future. Meanwhile,  jobseeker Ian is carrying out paid work with Giraffe at the South Inch cafe where he has learned several new skills involving using the till and 'cashing-up' at the end of the day. It was Ian's mother who first sparked off the idea of approaching Giraffe's James Alexander for work and after a successful interview was offered a job at South Inch.

"I do lots of things at the cafe," says Ian. Making sure that the cafe is ready for customers, putting up banners and helping in the kitchen including stocking of shelves in the cafe." Ian, who has been given training in Health and Hygiene is able to prepare and serve snacks and coffees, teas and drinks to callers at the cafe. "I haven't had any other offers of work recently but getting this experience and being paid at the same time is great and rewarding," says Ian with a grin. "I really enjoy working with volunteers and other jobseekers - they are all just brilliant. I am learning so many new skills and hope these will help me find a real job. "I would really like to work in retailing somewhere before moving on to get a job in sport...I would really love this."