Trainee story - Tae Chee

At the heart of Change Please are our trainee’s and graduates.

Each success is a testament to their own dedication and hard work throughout the programme. Hear from Tae Chee as they share their experience so far.

"Prior to starting with Change Please, I was going through a period a of homelessness. I had been homeless for 6 years. Things were looking very bleak. I then had a talk with my advidor at the job centre and saw an advert for barista training at Change Please. This started a process of upgrading for me. I started to climb out of being on the streets to finding accommodation and finding my way back into steady employment. Honestly speaking without the support given to me by Change Please I think I would have struggled a hell of a lot more.  

When I first started I didn’t know anything about making coffees, making the espresso shots, wight and time etc. It’s been a fascinating experience for me. A new venture that I’m thoroughly enjoying. It was a fresh start for me and the springboard Change Pleas has been wonderful and allowed me to dive in straight away. And with the type of training that’s been provided, I didn’t realise how fulfilling a job being a barista is.  

Having a conversation in the morning with a coffee, putting smiles on people’s faces, is exactly the change I needed. Before, you could say I was an introvert,  I didn’t like meeting new people, I tried to keep to myself. But with Change Please, It’s changed 180 degreees. It has changed and expanded my way of thinking. This is all due to the barista training provided by Change Please. 

The support that has been given by Change Please alongside the training has been wonderful. 

I’m a lot more optimistic than I was due to the training and interactions with other people, I’m more optimistic about the future now. I was in contract catering 20 years ago. I taught for about a decade. This course has provided a nice way for me back into the service industry."