New start for resource centre workers

FRESH START: New Wairarapa Resource Centre volunteer Jody Hooker, right, with trainer Bernice Woods, says she has grown in confidence since working at the counter.

A woman who could barely speak English, youngsters with a criminal past and a young mum disillusioned by unemployment are just a few of the lives the Wairarapa Resource Centre has turned around in 2015.

In the three years since its opening, the Masterton-based centre has seen more than 40 of its volunteers, who previously had little to no work experience or qualifications go on to find work.

The centre recruits volunteers to help run its second-hand store, with the aim of helping people who had been out of the workforce for many years find paid employment.

Centre manager Trudie Jones said there had been more than 150 volunteers come through the centre since 2012.

They include sickness beneficiaries, solo parents, shy teens and even some who had been in trouble with the law.

As a result of their work experience, 42 have either found employment or have enrolled in higher education.

"It's a real buzz seeing our workers thrive," she said.

"Some of these guys have had misdemeanours, or had never had a job, or had struggled with learning, and they've been able to turn their lives around.

"We've been having people walk in off the street, desperate to find work.

"It proves it's not true that most people on the benefit can't be bothered working."

One of the centre's most recent successes is current volunteer Jody Hooker, who after being out of work for 'a long time', is now working at the store three days a week.

"I was getting really bored just sitting at home," Jody, who has a two-year-old son, said.

"I had been looking for jobs, but couldn't find anything, as they were wanting someone with qualifications and experience.

"I needed a change, so I thought I'd give this a go."

Jody was shy when starting out, working in the back-of-house, but was 'thrown on the till' one day, and has been blossoming ever since.

"I didn't think I'd like working in customer service, but I'm really enjoying it so far."

Jody hopes to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, Neetu Bamrah Kalsi, who recently got work serving at Gull petrol station.

Not bad, considering she couldn't speak a word of English when she first arrived.

"She came to New Zealand with her husband who had got a job -- and she couldn't find anywhere local where she could learn English," Ms Jones said.

"So we put her on the till, and she kept learning and learning."

Other recent highlights include young Steff Watts, who was so shy 'she wouldn't look at you', enroll to train as a vet, and two young women with previous criminal charges finding work cleaning and in hospitality.

"We've had people walk in and say, 'you wouldn't want me' -- but we're all about second chances," Ms Jones said.