IHC youth get a chance in HELL

29 June 2015

IHC youth get a chance in HELL

Rene Bunker of Lower Hutt has just graduated from HELL Pizza’s ‘Active in Hell’ initiative. Rene undertook six weeks of paid training in the kitchen of the brand’s Petone store, learning about food safety standards and various commercial kitchen skills while gaining valuable work experience. She says she “loved all of it”: “I like the atmosphere in the kitchen; there are nice people at HELL”.

Rene is one of a number of candidates nominated by IHC’s IDEA Services – which works to ensure those with intellectual disabilities can lead happy, safe and fulfilling lives – who are being paid to train in HELL stores around the country.

Active in HELL piloted in Wellington in 2013. Six young people, each with an intellectual disability, received on-the-job training, and a weekly wage, at HELL outlets in Strathmore, Island Bay, Northland, and Newlands. The unbelievable response from participants on both sides inspired more HELL franchisees to get involved.

HELL has now trained candidates in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with plans to place more than 60 nominees each year nationwide.

HELL Pizza GM Ben Cumming said: “Our role is to provide a platform. These guys need real-world opportunities where they can learn skills and gain experience in a busy workplace. The confidence they get from the program will really help them as they move on to further training, employment or wherever they want to go in life.”

Rene Bunker has since gone on to study at Weltec. HELL Petone franchisee Rob Lindsay was pleasantly surprised by how much Rene could do when given the chance.

“The changes we have seen in her confidence and ability have been very rewarding for us. The other staff have really accepted her into the team. What Rene is able to do now is no different to what the rest of the guys do every day. Everyone thinks it’s been a pretty cool thing to be involved with, we’ve all actually really enjoyed the experience.”

Active in HELL National Coordinator, Krissy Gain of IDEA Services, has seen the effect of the programme first hand; “The candidates have a great time and learn useful workplace skills that are transferable to everyday life. The most valuable thing for our candidates is the experience that Active in HELL provides them. The individuals we support are incredibly capable so we are thrilled that Hell is able see this as well. It is hard to find businesses willing to give our young people a chance so we are very grateful to HELL for investing in our youth.”

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