Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition

Aroundtown MEETS
“
Homelessness should
not be a life sentence and
Labre’s Hope reminds us
that everyone deserves a
chance to thrive
”
“He was clear from the start that if you stay forever,
good. If it gets you on your feet and you leave after
six months, fine.
“It’s not been a perfect journey but most
importantly for me I’ve been able to work through
any difficulties which wouldn’t happen at any other
job. I’ve taken the time to work on my mental
health and am now capable of dealing with it. If my
depression cycles round again, it’s not the end of
the world.
“The world would be a much different place if all
companies were run the same as this one.”
Homelessness should not be a life sentence
and Labre’s Hope reminds us that everyone
deserves a chance to thrive. Ricky was threatened
with homelessness after a relationship breakdown
and told it would be at least 18 months before he
could be rehoused in a council property owing to
the pandemic fuelled backlog. But thanks to the
Labre’s Hope team, he has been able to move into
more permanent accommodation and now has
the funds to finance a van.
The team are also helping Ricky look at how
he can finally achieve his long-term career
goals of working as a rope access technician to
complement his rock climbing hobby. But he was
initially dubious when he found out about the job.
“When Crisis said there was a job making soap,
I said no at first. But then I thought it might help me
out and I’m glad I got pointed in this direction. I’ve
Danny
6 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
got anxiety disorder and bipolar and it’s been hard
to get or keep a job if I mentioned that as most
places shut the door on you, so I kept it a secret
for a lot of years.
“But it’s so different here. They support you
to deal with your mental health. I’ve built my
confidence and got structure back in my life.”
Every time someone buys a soap made at
Labre’s Hope, they’re giving hope to people who
understand what hard work means – and how
precarious life can be.
Trainee manager Danny is one of those people
who make you realise we’re all one decision away
from a totally different life. In December 2019, his
marriage broke down which led to him losing his
home, money and well-paid job as an electrical
engineer. He went into self-destruct mode and
spent any savings he had on alcohol, neglecting
his body until he weighed just eight stone.
For the majority of the Covid lockdown he slept
in someone’s shed and believed the best way to
get out of his situation and have a bed for the night
was to be promiscuous. This led to him fathering a
child which would be the wake up call he needed
to get his life back on track.
Danny says he started to eat right, got help from
Barnsley Council’s mental health team and began
seeing a psychotherapist to help him address his
PTSD and panic disorder that had been caused by
his marriage breakdown. He was put in touch with
Crisis who told him about the job at Labre’s Hope.
“I was used to working alone in both physically
and intellectually demanding jobs and always
preferred the physical jobs as mental demands
quickly lead to burnout for me. I thought soap
making would be mind numbing, but I found it
actually suited my skills and personality. I like to
work out the scent formulas as I go and I’m not on
the same level as Aaron but I soon realised I knew
enough to get things right which was reassuring.”
We watch on as he gets his colleagues working
through their current workbook and it’s clear to
see why Danny has since been promoted to
trainee manager. His mindset and approach are
as remarkable as his contribution to reorganising
all the workshop to make processes more
efficient. Not bad for someone who left school with
no GCSEs.
“For so long I’d been a caricature of myself,
putting on an act as a defence mechanism for my
social anxiety. But once I became comfortable with
the surroundings and people, it was easy to just
be me. I realised I was able to teach people in a
way that explains and shows them how or why we
do something a certain way without dictating to
them – even if they need showing 20 times. And
I’ve seen improvements in everyone in the team,
so I think it’s important to give credit where it’s
due. We’re a mix of people that shouldn’t work but
we do.”
The entire workforce has truly benefitted from
Aaron and Joash’s visionary leadership. But that
appreciation is reciprocated – Labre’s Hope is
lucky to have the staff it does.
Ben was right, if only all companies were run like
this one.
“
the easiest way to help is
by buying a bar of soap or
one of their new myrrh and
tonka candles launching
especially for the festive
period
”
They’re giving so much to the community but
they need a little help in return which is where we,
the public, come along. This winter, they will begin
their crowd funding appeal to protect the future of
Labre’s Hope. The easiest way to help is by buying
a bar of soap or one of their new myrrh and tonka
candles launching especially for the festive period.
Whether it’s a stocking filler for family or friends or
a treat for yourself, your purchase will mean the
Labre’s Hope team can continue putting the hope
in soap.
www.labreshope.co.uk