Furniture Bank

“Skills Training and Job Placement Program” Grant

Phase I 2011-2014
Phase II 2013-2015

Toronto’s Furniture Bank was awarded a three-year grant in September, 2011 to support its Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program. Furniture Bank focuses on taking gently used furniture from individuals and organization and providing it for free to newcomers to Canada, women and children coming out of abusive situations and the formerly homeless. The agency developed the Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program to teach workplace skills to at-risk youth in Toronto. Participants receive training in warehousing, trucking, logistics, call centre operations and client services. Those who complete the program receive assistance in finding gainful employment. The Foundation’s initial grant allowed Furniture Bank to hire a Program Manager as a means of expanding and formalizing its approach. Phase II permitted the organization to imbed impact assessment measurements in the Leg Up model, prepared Furniture Bank for eventual expansion, and to develop a program implementation guide. The Documenting the Evolution of Leg Up: Furniture Bank’s Skills Building and Employment Program Manual contextualizes Furniture Bank’s growth into a highly successful social enterprise that includes a skills training and employment program. The document provides an overview of all the facets of the Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program including much of the supporting administrative documents used in this intervention.

Furniture Bank is pleased to share its Documenting the Evolution of Leg Up: Furniture Bank’s Skills Building and Employment Program Manual with other community agencies who are interested in developing an employment training program within their core service delivery.