Rebuilding lives with Hope Industries

THE Power in You Project is expanding its commitment to providing support and building connections with the introduction of Hope Industries.

Officially launched last week, the new initiative aims to create pathways to employment for people who are doing it tough.

The project is made of two parts – the Hope Soap, selling soaps and cleaning supplies with funds raised going towards people with their own challenges and the services and labour hire.

The Power in You Project chief executive officer Kane Nuttall said the team had been working within the prison system for the past 18 months, and saw how many people wanted to get back into work but were limited by the opportunities.

“The Hope Soap and Hope Industries came off the back of a vision for flexible working arrangements to help people build capacity to get back into hopefully long term, meaningful employment.

“We’re really hoping the Hope Industries will be a stepping stone for employment and opportunity to build their capacity, to build their routines, to get off their corrections orders or to overcome their fears or challenges.”

Through the initiative, people with lived experience of homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges, disability or the justice system have the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

The Hope soap is also part of the new program, with all funds going back into supporting those with lived expereinces.

Hope Industries is now a registered labour hire provider and will be offering cleaning and gardening services, helping to slowly build people up from two hours a day to finding their dream job.

Once contacted by a business looking for labour hire, Hope Industries will explain the particular skill set of employees and some of the things that need to be considered.

“We try to match them with the right employers and then we work with the employers and we try to educate them what it’s like supporting somebody with lived experience,” Mr Nuttall said.

With the official launch only just taking place, the plan for Hope Industries is to take things slow, starting with a list of people who are ready to take the next step into the workforce.

For more information, head to thehopesoap.org.au