A SUPERMARKET has launched a new project to help support homeless and disadvantaged people in Oxfordshire.

The Midcounties Co-operative has partnered with local employment charity, Aspire, to provide work experience and supported employability opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.

Aspire is a multi-award-winning employment charity and social enterprise that helps more than 2,000 people in Oxfordshire every year who are facing homelessness, poverty and disadvantage to find employment and housing. Together the supermarket and the charity will run a recruitment pathway programme which will see individuals take part in a two-week placement at The Midcounties Co-operative’s Cowley Centre Food store, where they will shadow colleagues in their roles and receive training and support.

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The supermarket aims to provide permanent employment opportunities either at the Cowley Food store or within other Midcounties’ trading sites in the Oxford area for at least four people in the first year.

Paul Roberts, chief executive officer at Aspire Oxford, said: “The initiative is a great way for us to help expand the work we already do within the Cowley area and will really help make a difference to those in need of vital work-experience opportunities to help them develop their employability and social development skills.”

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