New Partnership with ARAMARK and Ballyfermot Family Resource Centre helps Expand Access to Job Training Programs for Youth and Adults in Dublin
Relationship kicks off with 100 employee volunteers creating a hub of training and education at Ballyfermot to help people find meaningful employment
Dublin, August 15, 2013 /3BL Media/ - A team of over 100 ARAMARK employees today rolled up their sleeves, donating their time, energy and expertise to help Ballyfermot Family Resource Centre create an ARAMARK Building Community (ABC) Opportunity Zone focused on workforce readiness to help youth and adults prepare for jobs and obtain employment.
This event kicks off a new partnership between the company and Ballyfermot, which provides integrated support and services to isolated and struggling families, and hosts local support groups and return-to-work programs.
ARAMARK, Ireland’s leading integrated services provider of food, environmental, property and facilities management, organised the day’s event as part of ARAMARK Building Community the company’s strategic philanthropic and volunteer program. Through ABC, ARAMARK partners with community centres to help prepare adults and teens for work, improve family health and help move people children, adults and families from poverty to success.
“ARAMARK Building Community is all about bringing together the expertise and enthusiasm of our employees to support the local community and encouraging the important role of strengthening neighbourhoods and families. We believe our work here today will help facilitate a positive impact on the local Ballyfermot community,” said Donal O‘Brien, CEO ARAMARK Ireland.
Volunteers will transform underutilized rooms into an inspiring and efficient workforce readiness resource area that includes training space for job development workshops and programs, and offices for youth and adults to practice interview skills. The ARAMARK team will also enhance the centre’s café, which doubles as a hospitality and culinary job training program.
Other parts of the facility will also be enhanced to create an even more welcoming environment for the community. An outdoor seating and dining area will be created adjacent to the café, and volunteers will landscape and enhance the crèche play space for young children. In addition, ARAMARK will launch a return-to-work programme for users of the centre to help people reduce the barriers they face in getting and keeping good jobs.
Ballyfermot Resource Centre added, “We support all aspects of the local community from our crèche to menni services to supporting people looking to get back into the workforce. Generally speaking, users who avail of our services in Ballyfermot require a level of support in their day to day lives. ARAMARK is helping to support our aims and the greater community with its skills enhancement and we welcome this partnership and the support shown here today.”
ARAMARK Ireland offers integrated services to the pharmaceutical, financial services, IT and manufacturing sectors, as well as institutions in the educational and healthcare sector. Employing almost 4,000 people throughout the island of Ireland, ARAMARK Ireland is headquartered in Dublin, with regional offices in Cork, Limerick and Belfast.
About Ballyfermot Resource Centre
The Ballyfermot Family Resource Centre was established in 1987 as a direct response to the needs of the area. Its primary focus was then and is still “to promote and enhance the personal, social, educational and economic development of the individuals and families who participate in the activities and programmes of the Centre.” Its main objectives are to develop the individual child, young person, adult, parent and family through the provision of a wide range of integrated services and activities.
About ARAMARK Building Community
ARAMARK Building Community enriches lives by helping families improve their health, secure jobs and move out of poverty. In partnership with community centers around the world, employee volunteers lend their nutrition, culinary, job readiness and facilities management expertise to ensure people can succeed. ARAMARK provides a range of resources, and since 2008 has invested more than $8 million in volunteer expertise, cash and in-kind resources to strengthen the capacity of local community centers, involving 18,000 ARAMARK volunteers through over 500 volunteer activities. Nearly 3.5 million individuals and families served by community centers in nearly 52 cities have been aided by the program. Visit ARAMARK for more information. Please join us on Facebook.
