What is your background – how did come to the House of St Barnabas? 

It was through the Veterans at Stoll Housing.  I was at the monthly drop-in meeting, when Brian from the House came to speak and explained about the Employment Academy. I was nominated by Stoll Housing and was accepted on the course, which I attended and completed.

How did you come to work at The Wolseley? 

Only A Pavement Away sent the doorperson vacancy for The Wolseley to the Employment Academy. My Progression Support Officer, Jig, then contacted me about it and from there I attended the interview and was successful.

What made you want to take on your role? 

I have always worked in the public sector in various roles and I have always loved meeting different people/characters. Also, I like to talk! I have not worked in hospitality so I thought it’s a new and challenging experience.

How did you feel when you took the role on as the first female stepping into a predominantly male environment? 

I was actually honoured to be given the role and I was treated no differently because I was a female, which has been wonderful.

Any fun facts about working at The Wolseley – have you met any celebrities/influential people? 

Being a female doorperson, some male customers automatically react when I open the door with, “thank you sir”. You see them verbalise their reaction as they realise “you’re a woman!” You must make a joke out of it, though, especially when you then have them opening the door for you. I just say no  – I am opening it for you, this is what I do! I have a chat and laugh about it, so they are not embarrassed. Celebrities? Yes, plenty – Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Sir Ben Kingsley, Bill Nighy, Christopher Biggins, Neil Sinclair, Joan Collins, Percy Gibson, Sir Trevor MacDonald – to name a few!

To celebrate International Women’s Month, we’ve spotlighted our female graduates who have gone from programme to carving out inspiring careers. Read about Jacqui and Nikol’s story – HERE.

Think back to the last time you were out for dinner or drinks. How did you know if the person who served you could afford to pay their bills? Or had a guaranteed income each month that they can rely on?

In the UK, the National Living Wage is £8.91 for adults aged over 23, but this wage is calculated on what is affordable for businesses, not individuals and their families. The Real Living Wage is paid by over 9,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meet daily needs – like the weekly shop, or an unexpected to the dentist. At £9.90 across the UK and £11.05 in London, the real Living Wage is based on what people actually need to get by. For a Londoner working 40 hours a week, that is a guaranteed annual salary of £22,984 compared to £18,532 on statutory National Living Wage. That’s an extra £250 a month you can rely on.

For those of you who don’t know us, House of St Barnabas is a private members club working to break the cycle of homelessness; both by supporting individuals into lasting good work and a secure home through our employment academy; and by convening and showcasing what good employment can look like in supporting individuals from more precarious backgrounds to thrive.

For us, and the people with a lived experience of homelessness that we work with, good work means a fair living wage, stability of contracted hours, opportunities for progression and a focus on the whole person in terms of their wellbeing and work/life balance. It doesn’t sound like a lot in some ways, but we are continuously shocked by how many employers do not provide these basics. It is impossible for individuals to build a secure stable life without these things in place.

The old – and outdated – model of topping up pay with service charge or tips, allows businesses to load the risk of business volatility onto their staff, rather than their shareholders. When footfall and spend are unpredictable, as they have been over the last two years, it is the lowest paid who take the burden, rather than the customer or shareholders. This makes life impossible to plan, guarantee rental payments or apply for a loan.

As a hospitality employer ourselves, we know that running a viable business and being the best employer can sometimes be in tension. We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage as the basic rate of pay, but our fixed costs are higher regardless of how the business is performing, and we still face the same challenges of recruitment and retention as the rest of the sector. We must be honest that there is no magic commercial return on paying London Living Wage – and that our prices must reflect this.

We convened some hospitality businesses to discuss these challenges, talking about how to prioritise a guaranteed Living Wage within business models that are under pressure. As this discussion progressed, it became clear that rather than a commercial question, paying Living Wage is absolutely a moral issue about who bears the brunt of your business volatility and what standard of living you can accept for your employees.

As responsible consumers, we understand now that if we want locally sourced food that has less environmental impact or clothing that doesn’t perpetuate the damage of fast fashion on the communities that produce it, then we must pay more. Yet many of us are still happy to eat and drink in establishments that don’t guarantee their staff a decent standard of living.

There will only be an urgent commercial imperative for hospitality businesses to change practice when customers begin to demand higher standards. We need a real shift in how we as consumers choose where we eat and drink. The more we ask that our favourite bars and restaurants guarantee a Living Wage as basic, the more pressure there will be on businesses to shift who carries the risk of their business away from the lowest paid.

So, when you are choosing where to eat and drink this weekend, pick somewhere that pays the Real Living Wage, rather than topping up hourly pay with service charge. In the current climate we are in, the majority of businesses you eat at will likely say no, but it is critical for us to push this agenda onwards – and you will be making a change with every conversation you have.

Interested in who is committed to good work? You can see hospitality employers who are Living Wage accredited – HERE.

Jacqui O’Shea – Floor Supervisor

I lived in the States for around 33 years. One day, I went to renew a driver’s license and they told me my Visa was invalid: I’d been living for over 30 years on a “non-existent” Visa. They followed this up by sending three SUV vehicles to my address, where three big armed guards took me into custody. I spent 14 months in jail waiting to be deported, and then in 2015, that’s exactly what they did. I had to leave my family behind in the States.

I landed in England on November 5th – Guy Fawkes night. I was hooked up with Prisoner’s Abroad, so when I landed, I had a place to go and people to support me. They helped me get organised and helped me to write down my career experience. Upon doing so, I was given a card to the House of St Barnabas. This was on the Wednesday, and they were recruiting for programme the following Monday.

I was recruited onto the Employment Preparation Programme the next week and started in January of 2016. I had vast experience in the hospitality sector, having started out in management when I was 19, and later gaining a degree as a chef. When I arrived in the States, I worked in country clubs, large restaurants and small venues. When my son was little, I got an office job running five different offices over two different states. But returning to the UK, it felt like the right time to get back into the hospitality industry as I fancied a change in my career path – office work can be very repetitive! In hospitality, no two days are ever the same – despite maybe seeing the same faces. I was set to graduate from the employment programme on April 6th and by April 2nd, I’d already secured a job at the BFI as a waitress. I’d only worked in the role for two weeks when they promoted me to Team Leader. I’ve always ended up being in job roles where I lead. I’m a doer: if there’s a problem, I’ll do whatever I can to fix it and I’m more than happy to guide folks through.

I was recruited back at the House in November 2017. They were doing a major renovation and they hired me as a Team Leader and then progressed to become Food & Beverage Supervisor, managing all the floor staff.

Working at the House; my thing is – if anyone makes a mistake, that’s fine as we are human, but let me know as soon as possible and I will help fix it. It means I’ve got an open, collaborative relationship where people aren’t afraid to come to me for support. I’m here if the floor staff have any problems – I want to help them get the best out of their experience. I see myself as a mentor to the staff, who are mainly international. I am open about my experience of being deported from the States and explain to them the immigration processes, stressing how important it is to settle your papers. If you in any way invalidate immigration laws, you have no rights as a citizen.

I love working here because I’ve grown with the members. It’s a community and there is continuity in that. I have my regulars – I know their usual orders; I know where they like to sit. I’ve got my pre-Covid members and my post-Covid members. I was even part of the membership tour at one point – my picture is on the walls; my experience is a part of this House. I feel like I’ve thrived here because I’ve got what I call the “hospitality spark”. I get a sense of accomplishment and joy out of helping people. If you don’t get that spark, working in hospitality means drudgery and you won’t find it rewarding. I take great pride in making people’s experiences enjoyable, it’s what I live for. The House to me is like my own home – I take pride in welcoming guests in the same way.

The House has been crucial in giving me the Home I have now and for offering me career progression. My career has been long and strange, but I’ve always ended up landing on my feet, no matter what the circumstance.

Nikol Dehaan – Graduate from our employment academy

I am a poet, photographer and author. I was born in London but shortly after moved to America. September 29^th, 2018, will be a date that I will never forget. It’s the day I landed in Heathrow and returned to England. I didn’t see how I was going to lead a life here in London, I couldn’t even see myself leaving the airport. But life has its way of giving you lemons and you’ve got to make lemonade.

I got linked up with some great organisations, such as the House when I arrived. No joke, the House became a lifeline for me. Not only did they give me the skills I needed to thrive but gave me confidence in myself and the mindset that I could do anything that I put my mind to. I wanted my life back so badly that I jumped on every opportunity that came my way when I was on programme.

The House wasn’t just there for me by teaching me skills, they were also there through life events. They stood by my side during the day of graduation – I finished programme excelling due to all the love and support that was shown to me. During lockdown, they stayed connected with me through monthly calls and regular emails. They never turned their back on me.

I now serve on the advisory board for Good Work initiative, to help with ideas for other students that come through the Employment Academy. The House has given me hope that I can get my life back, even at my age. Now, moving forward, the House has connected me with great organisations that have enabled me follow the great journey I am on now.

In the last four years, since graduating from the Employment Academy with a Hospitality certificate, the progression support team helped me get a job through Youth Hostel Association, and I’m still employed there! I gained a qualification in acting and have helped produce a play about my life story, which was played at Soho Theatre. I am also a stand-up comedian – the House got me involved with Funny Women and I’ve done a few shows with them now. I’ve also just graduated from a media production foundation course with distinction from Ravensbourne University and have now progressed on to my first year in Undergraduate Photography.

My hope is to complete my education and tell the untold stories in the world of the forgotten people through documenting their lives through my photography.

Join us on Tuesday 15th March for an International Women’s Day special, as we host a book talk with Nikol Dehaan and Charlie Milligan. Find out more and book your tickets – HERE.

Tara Hamdi, Head of Income

• Listen: The Harsh Reality Podcast – with Miriam Rivera

This episode of this Podcast series is based on 90s TV show There’s Something About Miriam, where 6 men compete to win the affections of Miriam in a reality tv series. What they don’t know is that Miriam is trans. I remember watching the TV show with my mum and thinking it was funny. Now, looking back, and hearing everything that happened after the show, it’s mortifying to admit I watched something like this for entertainment, and that it was even allowed on TV. I wish 15-year-old me had watched it and wanted to support that young woman, rather than be entertained by her story. It’s eye-opening and really struck a chord with me.

Jig Maidment, Progression Support Officer

• Listen: All the Small Things Podcast – with Venetia La Manna and Chloe Assam

Chloe Assam founded The OR Foundation in Ghana, raising awareness of all the fashion waste the West dumps in Ghana, which is approx. 15 million garments each year (VOM!). They also focus on improving the lives of young females working and living in dire conditions. I found this episode so interesting, but also depressing – it’s a real eye opener. I actively do no buy fast fashion (which is why I really Venetia La Manna, her Instagram is great) but was shocked by the severity of fashion waste ending up in Accra. The work Chloe Assam does is amazing, and I looooove seeing women own these spaces – the majority of fast fashion owners/CEOs are men, making loads of money off of women’s bodies, so I love seeing woman take back agency!

Ollie Stewart, Progression Support Manager:

• Watch: That Blackness – Nina Simone

I would love to share this powerful interview from Nina Simone. Once I had watched this interview it ignited my passion for black rights.

• Listen: Strange Fruit – Nina Simone

This is my song of the week, that I’ve also shared with Graduates from our Employment Academy to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Lucy Madden, Head of Membership & Events

• Watch: I May Destroy You – Michaela Coel

From Chewing Gum to Been So Long, Michaela Coel is one of Britain’s best writers and Actresses. My favourite thing by Coel? I May Destroy You, the extraordinary and honest exploration of consent, based on Coel’s own experience of sexual assault.  I binged this during the second lockdown of 2020 and it’s stuck with me ever since. It made me think about my identity as a woman, my experience living in London in my 20s and the broader issue of consent. Best TV I’ve watched in ages, in fact I might re watch again soon…

• Read: Educated – Tara Westover

I read this book a couple of years ago, and it now has a permanent spot on my bookshelf. Educated is a distressing and discomforting, yet hopeful memoir based on Westover’s upbringing in a Mormon fundamentalist family, in Idaho. Westover was 17 the first time she ever set foot in a classroom. She grew up in a strict Mormon family, in the mountains, where she prepared for the end of days by stockpiling home-canned peaches. Her father forbade hospitals and her family were so isolated from mainstream society that there was no way to ensure the children received a full time education, access to health care, nor was there anyone to intervene when Tara’s older brothers became violent. Lacking in any formal education, Tara began to educate herself, and taught herself enough to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning in her late teens for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the Civil Rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge.

Kandice Monerville, Operations Executive

• Know about: Viktoria Modesta

I recently discovered Viktoria Modesta while looking through the Instagram feed of the footwear brand, united nude boots. When I am feeling well and walking around in my favourite united nude boots no one would image I have a chronic lifetime debilitating hidden disability. Viktoria inspires me in so many ways – I connected with Viktoria because I think it is important to enact kindness and acceptance regardless of what you can or cannot see. She reminds us that we have a choice to embrace, take charge and create our own identities -that you are more than your disability, skin colour, age, body size, and all the other “isms”. If you don’t fit in, then don’t fit in – be you!

• Know About: Iris Apfel

Businesswoman, interior designer and 100-Year-old model! Iris inspires me because she embraces her individuality, in this world where wrinkles are airbrushed out and the thought of being/getting old is linked to invisibility.

Emily Bedward, Events Officer

• Read: Breasts and Eggs – Mieko Kawakami

This novel examines womanhood and bodily autonomy. Challenging every preconception about storytelling and prose style, mixing wry humor and riveting emotional depth, Kawakami is today one of Japan’s most important and best-selling writers. She exploded onto the cultural scene first as a musician, then as a poet and popular blogger, and is now an award-winning novelist. I have chosen this book as my recommendation because it has really resonated with me. The novel perfectly examines the ridiculously high standards that women are upheld to today and the consequences this can have on an individual. Kawakami speaks honestly with riveting emotional depth on what it means to be a mother and a woman.

Eloise Tahourdin, Digital Content Officer

• Visit: The Woven Child – Louise Bourgeois

I’m lucky to come from a family that are “creative” (which is a clandestine way of saying a bit nuts)! I picked up a pen and a paintbrush at a very young age, writing stories, illustrating them, entering art competitions, and taking comfort in books. I’ve always been obsessed with creating and my tastes have often been driven by incredible women, particularly those who have fought through great adversity. It made me feel seen when the people around me didn’t come from a background like I did. Louise Bourgeois is French-American artist my Mum introduced me to at a young age. Her work is inspired by psychological conflict, feminist consciousness and a fertile imagination. She’s hella cool. The Woven Child is the first major retrospective exhibition to focus exclusively on her work using fabrics and textiles and is on at the Haywarth Gallery until May. I am going full circle with the feminist sentiment and surprising my Mum with tickets for Mother’s Day (hoping to finally become the favourite)!

• Watch: – Joan Didion: The Centre Will Not Hold

I love Joan Didion. It was sad news to hear that she passed away a few months ago, but the great thing about artists and their art, is how they are immortalized. Their thoughts are still active for generations to come – they have the unique ability to impact people throughout time. Didion was a prolific journalist in 1960s California, writing about subject matter that no one was taking seriously, in a time where women writers mainly aspired to get into the editorial offices of fashion magazines (something Sylvia Plath also comments on in The Bell Jar). This documentary film is a great exposé on her life – her origins as a writer and the challenges, both societal and personal, that informed her work and shaped her art. Take a watch – it might inspire you to pick up one of her book’s (I’d start with her later work, The Year of Magical Thinking).

Our Director of Engagement, Gillian Jackson, reflects on the nature of working in 2022, exploring the takeaways the pandemic has had on “office culture”.

As we enter into another pandemic affected year with many of us working from home it is becoming increasingly harder to remember a life before it. As the pandemic recedes, we know that work life will never be the same, and although offices may survive, desks may look somewhat different.

The New Yorker reported that tech entrepreneur Chris Herd gained a devoted following during the pandemic by advocating for alternatives to working in an office. He set up a tech company just before the pandemic started, and benefitted from a remote model. Yet, interestingly, he saw the benefit of his teams meeting face to face to collaborate and work together.

The pandemic has shown that your location should enhance your work; for me; crunching numbers and writing reports and articles such as this one, is optimised from working at my kitchen table – carving out some time during the week to put a wash on is an effective way to use a ten minute break, while workshops, brainstorming meetings are best done in person. But should the “in person” part be limited to your workspace?

People need spaces to share ideas, debate, discover and enjoy human connection as it can be rare these days to meet and interact with strangers. The benefit of working in a communal space is the ability to connect with people you otherwise wouldn’t meet. Part of this comes from working alongside new people every day, but also elements of a community are built into members clubs such as House of St Barnabas.

Places can help us bond and find common ground, through a shared love of culture; by creating a space to unify people, we have an opportunity to break down barriers and have a conversation that helps to change perception or spark an idea.

Recent research shows the significance of small, seemingly irrelevant interactions on our sense of belonging and reduction of loneliness. That friendly conversation with Jackie; our Floor Supervisor, or Gigi; our barista, can scientifically help happiness. These interactions are the fabric that binds coworking communities together, and everyone – from the person greeting you as you arrive, to the person sitting at the hot desk next to you – adds to this sense of belonging. You will find that inspiration flows in an energetic environment when you are stimulated with new people, scenes and ideas.

And flexible working should be exactly this – flexible. A hybrid blend of home, office and a shared workspace should meet your productivity with the right location and opportunity. From the early morning meeting flurry, to the 3pm coffee and cake slump, your focus and energy levels naturally fluctuate during the workday – and offering greater variety of environments should accommodate this.

To celebrate flexible working – this January we’re offering no joining fee for those of your friends and colleagues that want to join – email us with the subject title “FlexFeb” to redeem.

This week, as part of our Barnabas Makers Series, we catch up with founder of Stems Rebellion, Ewa Mierzejewska, about all things floral design and how to deck the halls this Christmas season.

What is your background – how did you get into floral design? 

I studied for a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, vegetable and medicinal plants and a masters in ornamental plants. I’ve always been interested in flower arranging, so after moving to the UK, I decided to become florist. I started my journey from a little shop, taking a floristry course alongside, gradually working my way up to where I am now: owning my own business and facilitating creative workshops.

What kind of workshops do you put on at Stems Rebellion?

Stems Rebellion offers a range of workshops, my favourite being the dry flower wreath making one – a great way to keep your flowers for longer. We also offer flower crown and fresh and dry flower bouquet making workshops.

What do you hope people to learn from your workshops? 

I think the biggest benefit is getting more creative and, in some cases, also getting a little confidence boost. It’s mostly about fun: spending time with your friends and meeting new people!

What inspires/informs your work?

I like to keep my mind open and gain inspiration from everywhere I go. Sometimes it’s flowers or materials, sometimes it’s Instagram, but mostly I gain it from other people I get to work with. This is a reason why from time to time I allow myself to pick freelance projects where I get to work with other talented florists.

Are you working on anything currently alongside running your workshops?

At the moment I’m mainly focusing on my newly opened shop and developing its’ business strategy for next year (it’s almost Valentine’s Day)!

Where do you source your flowers from?

I use the new Covent Garden flowers suppliers for the British grown products and get rest of my flowers delivered by Dutch suppliers.

Does your practice link to sustainability/the community in any way?

I try to limit the number of exotic/imported flowers and to eliminate a carbon footprint, I limit the usage of plastic and oasis foam (the green foam widely used for flower arranging) which is single-use plastic. My plan for next year or so is to offer some free workshops to a youth Charity, perhaps to inspire some young people and help those who are interested get onto a career path in floristry.

What made you eager to put on this workshop at the House? 

I love the House’s social cause and I wanted to be involved in this. I’d love to be able to contribute more in the future!

Got any tips for making your home festive this season?

Keep the décor natural, bring in some fresh ingredients – even if it’s not a lot the scent will fill the room. Use lights in warm colours to make the space cosier and more welcoming. Don’t try to make your decorations perfect, just enjoy the decorating process and time with your family.

Got a bold idea for a creative workshop you’d like to run? Get in contact with us – HERE.

Last week, we celebrated the graduation success of all nine participants from our nineteenth Employment Preparation Programme. We delve into the day’s highlights.

Graduation day is an important benchmark at the House for our participants and staff.  The ceremony provides the opportunity to share stories, show gratitude, and reflect on the take-aways of a holistic programme of training, workshops and internships. It also allows loved ones and peers to get a sneak-peak into what’s been learnt over the last few months, made more heartfelt by live speeches and performances from participants and staff alike.

This year’s ceremony took place in our Drawing Room, with 60 guests – including our programme facilitators, EPP19 mentors, funders, referral agencies, employers, staff, and our participant’s family. Jane opened and closed the ceremony by sharing some inspirational words, while Kenneth performed one of his poems with such humour and sophistication, he stirred both laughter and pathos in the audience. Celia shared how the programme has helped her to gain the confidence she once lacked, thanking all staff and peers for aiding her on her journey of self-development. Massi gave his thanks to everyone at the House and shared a tender speech that commemorated World Aids Day, which also fell on 1^st December.

Our CEO, Rosie, Director of the Employment Academy, Ceri, Programme Manager, Brian and kick-starter, Lydia, all delivered speeches that not only showed their pride for the success of each participant but revealed what an enriching experience working on programme has been for them. Our resident poet and Employment Academy graduate, John Smallshaw, read a couple of poems and reflected on how well the participants engaged with his creative writing workshops whilst on the programme – demonstrated by each rousing performance. The ceremony was followed by refreshments in the Bazelgette Room, tasty cakes and hot drinks provided by our hospitality staff.

Each participant walks away with a City and Guild qualification in either hospitality or business administration, a new network of support, secure housing, and a restored sense of self-confidence and pride. But the journey for our graduates doesn’t stop here. They have a tailored route of progression ahead over the next year and beyond, including funded transportation for the first month after programme, interview preparation, employer partnering, housing support and continued mentoring from our Barnabas community. We recognise that each graduate’s needs are different, and we will be prioritising creating lasting progression routes over haste, with employers who align with our good work ethos – including paying London Living wage and providing secure working contracts.

We can’t wait to see where the road takes each of our graduates, and we’ll be there to support them every step of the way.

Read more about our participants’ journeys to the House and experience of programme by heading – here.

We speak to long-term member, Geoff Hall, who has donated to the House since October 2013.

Tell us about yourself

Now retired, I busy myself with practical projects which hark back to my days as an engineer (think “repair shop” but not as skilled) and physical activities such as kayaking. I live in Berkshire with my wife and have 3 grown up children and 1 grandson all of whom live in and around London. Being retired with the fitness and resources to enjoy it is a huge privilege and it would be rude not to make the most of it.

Most of my career was in Research and Development in the Telecoms industry culminating in being head of European R & D of a global equipment manufacturer. Immediately prior to retiring I worked as a consultant to the UK Government on networking technology and design. That role was based here in Central London and it was during that period that I became a member of the House.

Why did you choose to support The House of St Barnabas?

My good friends Kevin and Carole Baughan introduced me to the House, encouraging me to attend an introductory pre-launch evening in 2013. I was inspired by the Academy; I liked the concept of contributing to an organisation helping people who had got into difficulties to re-launch themselves. It had seemed to me that it was so easy to have the kind of misfortune from which it is hard to recover in London and that given the will, opportunity and professional guidance, most would be able to recover and thrive. I have always been impressed by the success rate of the graduates. The House as a club is friendly and interesting, a pleasant oasis in the heart of London and whilst I was initially attracted to the House by the charitable side, I quickly felt at home in the House.

What do you use the House for?

When I first joined the House I was working nearby and found the club an excellent place to sit and work away from the distractions of an open plan office. It was also a great place for discrete business meetings and, of course, social gatherings and meals. Between 2013 and 2015 I was in the House 2 or 3 times a week. After retiring I found the House a good place to meet friends since Central London is an easy destination to organise a rendezvous and such trips could be combined with a bit of shopping, or as was often the case, a trip to the theatre or a show. We always enjoyed meeting friends for a meal in the restaurant or chilling in the garden. Prior to Covid, I was visiting once or twice a month. Since the various lockdowns my visits to London have been much less frequent, but I’m looking forward to getting back to returning to the House more as things gradually return to whatever post Covid normal looks like. I am keen to see how the House evolves.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about?

One of the charms of the House to me has been the friendly and engaging staff; it has always been a pleasure to get to know the longer serving staff members whilst in the club. It certainly is a big part of the feeling “at home” in the House. Even though in these times my visits are less frequent it is still a lovely feeling to be greeted by a smiling familiar face.

Interested in supporting our mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness? Find out more about the ways you can donate – HERE.

This week, as part of our Barnabas Makers Series, we catch up with founder of London Terrariums, Emma Sibley, about the origins of her community-minded business and the benefits crafting with plants can have on your mental well-being.

What is your background – when did you start your company?

I started London Terrariums in 2014. My background is not in horticulture at all. I studied Surface Design at Uni and then went on to work in Ecommerce but have always had a keen interest in houseplants. Living in London without access to a garden I started to make terrariums and I quickly became obsessed by these bottle gardens and my hobby slowly started to become more of a full-time job! We moved into our New Cross studio 4 years ago and this is our base for Terrarium making workshops and general South London plant hangouts.

What kind of workshops do you put on at London Terrariums?

We hold workshops that help people to reconnect with nature. During our Terrarium workshops you will learn the history and science of these self-sustaining ecosystems, before getting stuck in and making your own! We run workshops for children, ticketed events, team-building corporate workshops, as well as plant swaps where like-minded plant folk can meet up and swap their propagations and cuttings.

What do you hope people to learn/gain from your workshops?

I like to think that our workshops are like a moment of calm in someone’s busy day. During the class your main focus is making the plant stand up in the jar – it is a time to leave worries and concerns outside of the room and just enjoy the moment. One of my main loves about the workshops and Terrariums in general is that what people make in the class is not the final result: the plants do grow, so it’s nice to see people take this in mind when planting up. Gardening is all about the long game – planting a seed and waiting for it to grow. Making your terrarium and watching it evolve has the same feeling.

What inspires/informs your work?

We love moss, however in the UK many people see moss as a pest, removing it from their lawn/shed roof. We try to look at moss the same way they do in Japan, in awe of it. Moss is a treasured item for us in terrariums, it creates such a beautiful floor covering for the plants and helps to increase the humidity in the vessel. So for us, Japanese Moss Gardens are a huge inspiration.

5. Where do you source your plants from?

We source our plants and moss from New Covent Garden Flower Market in Battersea. It opens at 4am so heading there is always an early start but as soon as you are there it feels like the middle of the day!

6. Does your practice link to sustainability/the community in any way?

We try to use as much recycled or eco glass as we can, searching antique markets for large antique carboys rather than buying new. We also worked with a local charity Feed The Hill in New Cross to donate 20% of our profits from this year’s Black Friday weekend to help their food bank. As a small business it doesn’t make sense for us to discount, so we wanted to use the buzz of that weekend’s sales to help a charity close to us.

7. What made you eager to put on this workshop at the House?

We absolutely love the ethos of the House of St Barnabas. You see so many members clubs that are only focused on a swanky interior and who they can get through the door, but the fact that the House has a social purpose – helping with homelessness by facilitating training, education and a route back into work through their workshops and initiatives really makes us proud to work collaborate!

Got a bold idea for a creative workshop you’d like to run? Get in contact with us – HERE.

This week, as part of our Barnabas Makers Series, we had social enterprise and jewellery makers Pivot come to the House to lead two workshops for both our Employment Academy participants and our members. We spoke to their Master Maker, Jason, about his journey from homelessness to Programming and Workshop Lead at Pivot. He shares with us his experience working with our Employment Academy on the day and his aspirations on continuing his outreach work in the future.

1. What’s your journey been to become the “Master Maker” at Pivot?

After coming out of Prison I was left without a home. Before joining Pivot, I was living in a hostel in London which was a dismal experience. The opportunities felt few and far between. I felt like I was on the dark side of the road. I was placed on a programme at Fat Macy’s – a social enterprise that uses their restaurant business to train and support Londoners living in temporary accommodation. That’s where I met Pivot’s CEO and founder, Alice.

At the time, Alice was doing a social enterprise scheme before founding Pivot which put her on placement at Fat Macy’s. Halfway through my placement, she started Pivot and came to the hostel I was staying in to trial one of their workshops. I picked it up pretty quickly and realised that I could buy one or two things to make the workshops easier to conduct. I ended up streamlining a lot of the processes to make more jewellery in less time, making it more cost effective and easier to run for the company. From there, I became a trainee for a couple of months, and before I knew it Alice offered me a job – 2 days a week part-time and the first person on the payroll after her. Just as she employed me, I finished my placement at Fat Macy’s – everything fell into place.

2. What kind of impact has working with Pivot had on your life?

The organisation has changed my path, but if it wasn’t for Alice engaging with me during my placement at Fat Macy’s and helping me get involved with Pivot, I would still be in a dismal place. She’s effectively changed my life. She’s given me the opportunity to develop within the organisation and I’ve had the experience of going through different job roles. When I first started, we were doing a lot of outreach in the community getting people involved with the brand. I then moved onto programming and leading the workshops myself. Alice trusts me to manage all the sessions we run independently. We still run sessions at the hostel where it all started, and I’ll be doing a few pop ups with them over the next few months. I enjoy engaging with people to share Pivot’s message and demonstrating the good work we do.

3. Did you have a creative background before joining Pivot?

 Nothing like this. My creative background is in dance – I am a dance teacher by trade, but I’ve always been able to engage people through some form of activity. Before I went to jail, I was a teaching assistant in a school and have an educational training qualification. Pivot saw the potential I had through my leadership skills and slowly built me up by repeatedly trying to make me believe: I can do this.

4. How do you find leading the workshops and what do you hope people will gain from them?

When I’m in the workshops teaching, I’m in my element: engaging with people, getting people to find the aspect of the process that they enjoy and bringing their creativity out. I’m quite confident as a leader and I’m happy sharing my own experiences. I’m aware that my story has its ups and downs – to some it can be a bit daunting to hear, but to others it can be motivational. When people remind you of the mental health benefits when you’re teaching and how relaxing the experience is, it gives me a really warming feeling. Being in a creative environment and seeing people’s reactions to producing something unique from start to finish makes me feel like I’ve achieved something great.

I want everyone who engages to get a positive outcome, which will look different for each person. Some people might be going through life and its stresses and need an hour or two to switch off – to focus on something else and take themselves away from the difficult places. I’ve had some people that I’ve trained who’ve gained the inspiration from the workshops to start something up for themselves, like their own Facebook marketplace or Etsy shops. If I can be an inspiration to a select few – to encourage them to take the baby steps to better themselves, then I’ve done a good job.

5. If you had any advice for your younger self, what would it be?

I don’t know if I would change anything. Who I am now is unique and is a product of the journey on and the experiences I’ve been through – good and bad. If I had given myself hints and tips, I wouldn’t be the person who I am now. Would I still be complacent? Would I still be in a dark place? Would I be able to be a leader like I am now? I don’t know if I would. So I’d say to my younger self – be happy. The rest will follow.

6. What are your aspirations for the future?

I have a dance company that I run alongside Pivot – they’ve just won a couple competitions and are doing well, so I wouldn’t want to do that again as I’ve achieved success here. I’d like to move onto something different.

I’d like Pivot to get to the place where I can go full-time with programming and leading our workshops and I’d like to develop the financial security to start my own social enterprise. What I’ve learnt the most being in these environments is that so many people have lots of different ideas but lack having the person to give them the kickstart. There are schemes in place, like the Prince’s Trust, designed to give people an opportunity. But the reality is, for someone in a hostel it’s not an achievable venture. If I had my own social enterprise, it would be making that link to encourage people to start something for themselves. People need you to invest in them, not just their projects. When you’re stuck still it’s very hard to get the ball rolling but if someone comes and gives you a push – makes you feel accountable for something in life – it encourages a mantra of “I can’t mess this up”,  helping them to push on and grow.

7. What items do you make in your workshops?

We currently have two types of workshops – one is an acetate workshop where you can make earrings or a glasses chain, and then other is a silver ring making workshop. We outsource a professional ring maker to run these, but I’m hoping one day I’ll teach these too.

8. What was it like working with our Employment Academy participants?

Everyone had a unique take on what to create. We generally have a process that we follow in the workshops and about 80% of the participants had ideas that broke this mould. I was sceptical at first, but when I saw their work develop, they managed to produce some pieces that I’d not seen before – I loved them! We all made earrings apart from one participant who made a keyring – he managed to cut the acetate into a key shape and embellish other details. These workshops are all about creativity and are great because I can teach you to make a product with an outcome that I want, but if you’re willing to show me your imagination and expand on the idea at hand, I’m all for it – let’s play around. I’ve got additional tools, glue – if someone has a bigger idea, then we can try it.

Overall, I think everyone loved the experience. One of the participants ended up leading a sub-group during the workshop, showing others how to mould the acetate because they’d got the hang of it really well. I saw some natural leadership which was great and the conversations that were coming up were really holistic – people were actively engaging in mindfulness and switching off.

Looking to buy some sustainable presents for your loved ones this Christmas? From Monday 7th to Sunday 20th December Pivot will run a pop-up in the bustling heart of White City’s Westfield London, making it the first social enterprise the shopping centre has ever hosted as a kiosk tenant. Check it out!

Interested in booking your own workshops? Get in touch with the Pivot team – HERE.