James’ Journey Continued: From Supported Intern to Valued Volunteer

We’re thrilled to share an update on James journey with Swale Foodbank has reached exciting new milestones. Since his interim placement at Swale Foodbank, where he started by sorting donations during the busy Harvest Festival period, James has made incredible strides. James has developed both personally and professionally, growing into a confident and skilled team member.

Having successfully completed the bemix Supported Internship programme, James is now a regular volunteer at Swale Foodbank, where he is considered an invaluable part of the team. Over the past year, James has made strong friendships with his colleagues, learned more about the food bank’s operations, and grown a range of skills that have made a difference to the people who are supported by Swale Foodbank.

Reflecting on his time, James shared, “It has been over a year since I started working at the foodbank, and I have enjoyed every second of it! I have made so many friends here and learned so much over this past year. I’m also so happy to have helped so many people in need.”

This year has also brought an academic achievement for James - he passed all of his exams, an accomplishment he had once thought was out of reach. James’ success shows his determination and dedication, marking a significant milestone in his journey with bemix.

The Swale Foodbank team, led by Project Manager Esther Hurwood, is thrilled with James’ progress. Esther said, “James has quickly become an integral part of our foodbank team, and we can't imagine how we ever managed without him! He has learned so many new skills and built great friendships with team members. We love having James on the team and hope he’ll be with us for a long time to come.”

James’ achievements haven’t gone unnoticed by his bemix teacher, Julian Watts, who supported him throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. Reflecting on his journey, Julian said, “I watched James grow into the caring, thoughtful, and kind young man he is now. Initially, he doubted himself, often believing his work wasn’t good enough, but he persevered. His success in passing his summer exams in Maths and English is phenomenal, especially considering that he hadn’t taken any formal exams before.”

James’ story is now featured in the upcoming bemix exhibition ‘A Sense of Belonging’ at The Beaney, running from 9th November 2024 to 5th January 2025. During an interview for the exhibition, James reflected on his journey, expressing pride in how far he’s come and gratitude for the skills, confidence, and friendships he’s built along the way.

James’ continued progress is a powerful example of the impact of bemix Supported Employment programmes. We believe in a world where everyone can be seen, heard, and belong, and James’ journey reminds us of the unique contributions each person can make with the right support, in the workplace and in wider society.

We’re so proud of James and look forward to seeing the next steps in his inspiring journey!

To learn more about bemix Preparation for Employment programme, click here.

To learn more about bemix Supported Internship programme, click here.

To speak with our Supported Employment team call 01227 374285, or email [email protected]