Cridge Brain Injury Services – Employment

We believe that with training and appropriate employment supports, including education and support to employers, our survivors can be gainfully employed in a variety of industries. Much of the stigma associated with brain injury comes from lack of knowledge and strategies to support the individual living with a brain injury. When both the employee and the employer have the tools needed to create a safe, strategy-based work environment, the outcome is win-win. The employer is equipped and more willing to assist in bridging a gap in the community for vulnerable people, and the individuals we serve can establish themselves as long-term, loyal and productive employees.

Feeding the Future, initially funded by Vancouver Foundation, was born from the success of our original Community Kitchen which brought survivors together to cook and share a meal. The potential of survivors was revealed in the kitchen along with their keen desire to return to more meaningful activity in their lives. We believed the abilities they demonstrated could lead to gainful employment with some honing of skills and sound encouragement. In this project, survivors received training in all aspects of the business including food safety, production, marketing, sales and business development. This increased their employment skills, experience, confidence, stamina, and income.

From the Garden to the Plate

We began with teaching survivors to garden an assortment of vegetables. The next step was to look at ways in which to build a business from the garden and the program morphed into the Kale Kings. They adapted the recipe for Flourless Chocolate Fudge Cookies to include the kale they grew and began packaging and selling the cookies at outdoor markets and small shops.

As more interest grew, from both survivors and the community, we put together a program to educate and train more individuals in food service skills. The Food Service Skills Training (FSST) is a 12-week program and teaches survivors all the basics of the food industry. They learn basic skills, undergo job readiness in the food industry, and obtain food safety certification.

For special orders or information on catering events, please email brainworks@cridge.org