JustWork Economic Initiative (Social Enterprise Profile)

JustWork Economic Initiative
(JustRenos, JustCatering, and JustPotters)

Vancouver – Employment Social Enterprise

Stories:

 “JustWork has helped me a lot. …  When I am working I feel like somebody – a citizen – rather than riding on the shirt tales of society.  I feel a part.  They should have more businesses like this.  The flexible employment helps when I am feeling worn or anxious, I can take the time off I need to recover.” (‘Tony” – JustRenos Employee – from JustWork’s December 2010 newsletter)

Other quotes from participants in the social enterprise (From their 2008 newsletter):

• “I can be creative and gain an income.”
• “This is helping me with more things than pottery. I’m not just waiting on the pills to handle my depression.”
• "There is a positive environment with a good support structure.”
• “I can now buy bread and milk for supper.”

A Note of Thanks to JustCatering:

“We wanted to extend a huge thank you for doing such a fabulous job catering our wedding. We know that our orchard venue created some challenges for catering and so we really appreciate your creativity and ability to make it happen! We’ve received so many compliments about the food and we loved it as well! If you ever need a reference, we have nothing but great things to say about what you have to offer! Thanks again.”

 (a JustCatering customer, from JustWork’s December 2010 newsletter)

    
 The organization:

JustWork Economic Initiative is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization whose mission is to foster dignified, gainful work opportunities for individuals who face major barriers to work.  As of 2008, 70% of their employees had a permanent physical or mental disability.  They develop and support social enterprises which provide flexible employment to their employees and quality goods and services to their customers.

The social enterprises:

JustWork currently has three enterprises, of which one of them is JustRenos.  (The others are JustCatering and JustPotters).

JustRenos started in Vancouver in June 2009.  After running one crew a few days a week for the first 8 months, as of 2010 they operated two full-time crews.  The enterprise is led by a licensed carpenter with over twenty years of experience and veteran crew leaders with decades of additional industry experience. The work includes decks and fences, complete interior renovations, as well as building maintenance. 

Between 2007 and 2010, JustWork (through all its social enterprises) has gone from employing just 14 people with barriers to employment to 33, and from $33,000 in annual revenues to $407,000.

enp history:

JustWork received $4,000 in 2006 “to develop a business plan for an organic gardening and landscaping business employing individuals with multiple barriers to employment” (which is not presently operating).  JustWork received a further $2,500 in 2009 to help the organization as a whole implement the Demonstrating Value program.

Click here for photos and a pdf version of this social enterprise story/snapshot.

Social Enterprise Stories, Snapshots and Videos

Enterprising Non-Profits is putting together a collection of videos and stories/snapshots featuring different social enterprises from around BC.  Above is the story/snapshot on Just Work Economic Initiative.  To see stories/snapshots on other social enterprises in BC, click here.  (And to see our collection of social enterprise videos, click here).