The YMCA ReBuild program is a social enterprise that provides quality facility maintenance services in Melbourne. Their distinct point of difference is that they employ young people who have been involved in, or who are at risk of being involved in, the criminal justice system, and who are looking to turn their lives around.
Re-Build provides valuable skills, work experience and real jobs to young people who need it most. Now in its fifth year, ReBuild has helped change the lives of 75 disadvantaged young people.
“In the two years I have been here I have found it hard to get a job and that has made it hard for me to keep out of trouble,” he said. “I could have ended up inside if I’d kept going in the same direction,” said one of the participants employed by ReBuild Facility Service, Melbourne.
In 2015 ReBuild urgently needed equipment to enable them win new landscaping contracts for medium and large scale commercial grounds keeping jobs.
“Having the correct volume and quality of equipment allows the teams to fulfil the work requirements to a high standard. In turn, this builds our capacity to employ more young people,” said Nicole Jordan from YMCA Victoria.
With support from Gandel Foundation, ReBuild was able to purchase an industrial grade ride-on mower and win a new contract. Even more importantly, it has resulted in the employment of an additional young person, keeping them out of custody and giving them a real second chance.
The YMCA Re-Build’s current customers include Healthscope Hospitals, Serco and Villa Maria/Catholic Homes.
