Following its festive campaign, Acorn, Wales’ leading training and recruitment company, was able to donate warm clothes, waterproof jackets and work attire to local charity The Wallich.
The campaign, to raise awareness of homelessness, involved all Acorn’s branches UK-wide and saw staff, clients and candidates donate vital items such as tinned food and toiletries.
Here in Wales, The Wallich was chosen for their work helping vulnerable people get accommodation and support to live safer, happier and more independent lives.
The specialist recruiter also encouraged people to donate work clothes and smart devices, such as old phones and tablets, to support people in their quest to get back on track and into work.
Maria Larcombe, Director of Operation (South), for Acorn, said: “Raising awareness and supporting those affected by homelessness is something everyone at Acorn feels extremely passionate about.
“We were overwhelmed by the support we received from colleagues, friends, family, clients and jobseekers and we were very grateful to everyone who got involved. I even woke up to find neighbours had left coats by my front door.”
Marc Jones, Head of Operations for Acorn, added: “Acorn’s Construction, Mechanical and Electrical Division has been working with The Wallich for some time now, as we recognise that as a leading recruitment agency, we are ideally placed to provide support to anyone keen to get back into work.”
Jan Balsdon, Director of Fundraising and Corporate Partnerships for The Wallich, said: “We were delighted to partner with Acorn once again on this fantastic campaign and thank them for their ongoing support.
“The donations collected will make a huge difference to our clients and residents as they work towards independence and becoming job ready. Acorn understands the issues surrounding homelessness and has a drive, like us, to create opportunities for people who just need that little extra support to get them back on track.”
Working directly with the charity, Acorn recently mentored an individual who had been seriously affected by homelessness and following bespoke training on interview technique and confidence-building, Acorn was able to find and secure a construction role for him on a high-profile development in Cardiff.
Award-winning Acorn is the largest, multi-specialist recruitment agency in Wales and in the top 1% of agencies UK-wide, placing some 6,500 people into the workplace each week and 1,700 people into permanent positions every year.
Acorn operates from 37 branches and on-site locations across Wales, the South West, North West and South East of England, Dublin and has international offices in Australia.