BARISTA TRAINING PROGRAMME
The Barista Programme is a transformative journey with distinct phases: a beginning, a middle, and an end goal. It is a fun, interesting course that is designed to improve trainees’ current skills and help them develop lots of new ones. It has an easy-to-follow format that consists of a 3-day workshop, as well as in-store and video training and information. The key areas of focus are espresso production and grinder adjustments, milk texturing and latte art, drink production and customer service. Our dedicated team at the Change Please Foundation are experts, passionate about making a real difference in the lives of individuals who have faced or are currently experiencing homelessness.
The training programme is for people experiencing homelessness from a range of backgrounds, including Care Experienced / Seeking Refuge from Abuse / Hostel / Prison Leavers* / Sofa-Surfing / Supported Housing / Temporary Accommodation / Rent Arrears causing Risk of Homelessness.
Referrals are made via charity partners, government agencies such as JCP and Probation services and some NHS community services. We work closely with them to identify individuals who are willing and able to work. We have found that the sooner we assist someone experiencing homelessness, the quicker we can facilitate positive change in their situation.
The current referral form is available upon request so please contact us. We are unable to accept self-referrals.
THE JOURNEY OF A TRAINEE…
01
Initial Assessment: Candidates initially undergo a criteria assessment. Once eligible, they receive the details for a 3-day training workshop. During these days, we evaluate their attitude, aptitude for coffee, communication skills in a social work-environment, and readiness for employment.
02
Coffee Training Workshops: The core barista training begins with a 3-day workshop at one of our training academies. These workshops are engaging, interactive, and practical. By the end of day 3, participants can confidently make any Espresso Coffee based drink and can create a latte art heart. Each workshop day starts with a warm welcome from our training team, accompanied by our award-winning coffee and pastries.
03
Training Contract: After successfully completing the coffee training workshops, candidates can be offered a 3-month training contract. Trainees work part-time hours (Monday to Friday) and receive the London Living Wage. Each Trainee’s journey is different. All Trainees have access to employability workshops, CV writing sessions, mock interviews, well-being and mindfulness workshops, and optional therapy or physiotherapy. Additional benefits include paid annual leave, a 50% discount on food and non-barista drinks, and complimentary barista beverages.
04
Wrap-around support:Throughout each Trainee’s journey, they have access to an abundance of additional support. Initially the support team will speak with each Trainee about what support we can offer and what support they would like from us; this can be anything from help around housing, mental health, accessing therapy, physical health, finances, attending appointments to anything they feel is getting in the way of achieving their goals. This could be by signposting individuals to services which can store belongings or managing their time in a better way as well as expectations at work and how to meet these. Once the trainees have started their work placements, the support team will meet each Trainee on a regular basis at the training sites to check in. Further support takes place through helping trainees look for work and showing them the best ways to secure employment.
05
Onward employment: Change Please recognises that employment is the most effective solution to homelessness. We aim for all trainees to receive onward employment by the end of the programme and have created several onwards pathways: permanent job, internship, apprenticeship and secondment, working with countless Corporate Partners to do so. To achieve this goal, each week we offer an employability drop-in service where trainees/graduates are assisted by our impact team and/or a volunteer. Additionally, we have a day each month full of employability workshops. These sessions are designed to leave both trainees feeling positive about themselves and their future. Employability interventions include career coaching, CV writing, job boards, applying for jobs, cover letters, disclosures, preparing for interviews, competency-based questions and the STAR technique and mock interviews.
HEAR FROM OUR GRADUATES
If you would like to become a Change Please volunteer please email volunteer@changeplease.org, if you have any employment opportunities please email: impact-team@changeplease.org or if you are interested in referrals please contact referrals@changeplease.org