Unity Works working in partnership with The Felix Project

Posted 27/01/2025

Unity Works have been working with The Felix Project to create two accessible paid Packing Assistant Trainee roles for people with a learning disability.
Tomide, one of the Packing Assistants at the Felix Project

We’re starting the new year by introducing an exciting new partnership that Unity Works has developed with The Felix Project, a fantastic charity that rescues surplus food from the food industry and delivers it to over 1200 frontline charities and schools in London.

Over the past year we have been working together to create two accessible paid Packing Assistant Trainee roles for people with a learning disability at The Felix Project, based in Felix’s Kitchen in Poplar.

Unity Works and Felix developed these roles in partnership and our Unity Works team has been offering support with accessible job descriptions, task analysis and recruitment process and delivering tailored Disability Awareness Training. The opportunity was developed in collaboration with Felix’s Kitchen managers, staff and the team with the goal to create trainee posts in which people with a learning disability can develop practical skills, receive training and experience and progress in their career.

When it came to recruiting for the roles, Unity Works supported with advising on assessment days and two former Supported Internships Project Search Interns, that our teams had previously supported, were ultimately successful in securing these paid positions. Since joining the team, both individuals have flourished in their roles, working within a kitchen team to support volunteers at The Felix Kitchen and develop their employability skills.

Both individuals are now halfway through their six-month journey with The Felix Project so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to take stock of their achievements to take and the impact of these roles on the Felix Project Team.

Of his new role, one of the Packing Assistants, Tomide (right image), said:

Working with The Felix Project is amazing. I feel I know what I am doing in terms of structure and process. I enjoy fluffing the rice, doing the ready meals and sticking the labels. I like to be responsible for the volunteers. [Unity Works] have been supporting with the training.  “[The Felix Project] is great. There are really great nice people in my team. I like working in a team.

As part of our employer engagement, Unity Works developed this role with The Felix Project as they wanted to further develop their inclusive and diverse training and work opportunities, Working in partnership has meant that we can utilise both organisations expertise to have created a fantastic opportunity that is tailored to the organisation it is within.

Nick Kerle, Head of Production at the Felix Project, said:

The whole programme has been a great success so far and has already had such positive impacts within our team, bringing another level of excitement in the team and supporting us to deliver our own goals as a Kitchen alongside giving two fantastic young adults a chance to grow and learn with us.  We are excited to both deliver with our current cohort and plan many more to come, this is in large part thanks to the consistency and support from Unity Works.

Are you an employer looking for support to adapt your internal policies and procedures to ensure they are fit for purpose in recruiting and retaining people with a learning disability?

Get in touch with Helen Smith, Employment Service Manager, to find out more at [email protected]