JERICHO charity publishes one year on Impact Report following successful Shoosmiths Foundation funding

JERICHO charity has published its one year on Impact Report following a grant awarded by the Shoosmiths Foundation in October 2022.

The Birmingham based charity run seven social  businesses providing local work/ training placements ranging from two months to two years for local unemployed people with complex, intersecting barriers to social mobility and inclusion. Its work/training placements are designed to ‘level the playing field’ and create a ‘first rung of the ladder’ opportunity from which beneficiaries can launch into mainstream work and social inclusion; to give people a break whom other employers won’t take a chance on and prepare them to work in the wider world.

Shoosmiths Foundation funding supported JERICHO Jump Start (JJS) to help the charity focus on ‘what comes next’ immediately after a JERICHO placement, and also to focus in a more intentional and sustained way on longer-term work and life progression and fulfilment, to help beneficiaries fill unfilled vacancies and start their journey towards social mobility.

One year on the project has supported 50 people of whom 77% have progressed into employment, education or other positive outcome.

This compared with original targets to support up to 40 beneficiaries, with circa 75% entering sustainable employment and 25% achieving their most appropriate destination.

For JERICHO the impact has also been transformational. As Patrick Masih, Senior Manager; Corporate Giving and People Support, explained ‘Our increased capacity meant that we were able to invest time in forging links with employers and creating opportunities to visit them for ‘careers days’ to learn about their organisations and career paths. Many of our clients were clearly inspired and motivated by these visits.’

JERICHO Jump Start has now become an integral part of its service delivery and the charity is committed to continue to deliver this aspiration raising element of the programme.

To read the full report, including data and case studies please see here.