Meet Abi, our Admin Assistant at Café 1759 in Whitehill and Bordon. Abi joined us through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to create job placements for 16-24-year-olds who are at risk of long-term unemployment. Two months into her role at Café 1759, Abi shares how it’s helped build her confidence.
I’d been looking for a job to get out of my Sunday shift working in a pub to gain more hours and more experience in an office, as that’s what I wanted to do in the future as my career choice. The Kickstarter was perfect for me as it was 25 hours a week and funded through the government, so they pay for you to work.
I needed something that wasn’t full time hours as my mental health and confidence had been knocked. And I needed something I could build up on and train in, while still fitting in with my little boy. He will forever be my top priority, but as he has started school full time, it was the perfect time for me to look for work.
I had been notified by my universal credit account to check my journal and I saw the Café 1759 advertisement for an Admin Assistant through the Kickstart Scheme. As a fan of the café and regular visitor I thought it was perfect and somewhere that I felt, if I got the job, I’d feel comfortable and at ease working and it wouldn’t set my anxiety too high. I had two interviews, like any normal job application, and got hired! I couldn’t stop jumping up and down with joy that I got it.
A typical day for me starts with the best wake up call by having my little boy jump on me at about 6.30am, followed by a very strong cup of coffee and getting us both set for the day. If it’s not raining, I tend to walk my son to school and then to work for 9.30am. I make myself another coffee, then crack on with my emails, social media for the café, invoices etc.
As an admin assistant I’m classed as the ‘jack of all trades’, so there is always something different to do each day depending on what is happening. I’ve decorated, helped with the menu, and even done some painting when it’s been required. On some occasions, when people have booked in holiday, I have stepped in and helped on front of house, learning how the till works and how to make the best coffee in Bordon! In my time working here I have also taken over the café’s social media. There is never a dull day!
I finish at 2.30pm in time to pick my son up from school, so I get the late afternoon/ early evening quality time with him which I love. The Kickstart opportunity has been great in allowing me to work my hours around having my son and what’s suitable for him.
Abri has supported me in many ways, for starters I’m an Abri resident, so providing a roof over my head. Secondly, credit goes to Jo Horner in the Employment Service, who has helped make my transition back into work so smooth. She helped me create a plan and look into online courses that I can take to help me develop further. I’m currently enrolled in a level 2 business admin course under Basingstoke College, which is helping me learn in depth about my roll as an admin assistant. And all my training I’m getting underneath the amazing supervision of Natalie Disney, Café Supervisor, and Graham Bryant, Project Manager – 1759, who have made me feel like part of the team and that everything I’m doing for them has been a help. I definitely feel like I’m making a contribution to the team and my confidence has gone up, which is an amazing feeling.
I’m really enjoying my time here at the café and I’ll be sad when the six months of the Kickstart is over, as I feel valued here and that my opinion is important. I’ve learnt so much in the short amount of time as it is and can’t wait for what the next four months hold.
For anyone thinking of doing something similar I would say my top tip is to do your research into the company if you don’t know much about it. Have a list of things ready that you’d like to learn and have some goals set as to what you’d like to achieve.
For employers considering the Kickstart Scheme, I would recommend making sure that you pick an applicant that will have a personality that will get along with the rest of the team, because if your team doesn’t work well together then it won’t work as effectively. Here I feel comfortable within my team that I can share ideas and they won’t be dismissed and I can come forward with anything I feel necessary to talk about regarding the café. It’s lovely knowing that we all work really hard and are passionate about what we are doing.
