May 2017:  "As part of WALK’s Spring Jobs initiative I started working as a Shop Assistant in Regatta Great Outdoors in the Square Tallaght back at the start of March 2017. It was a job placement for a duration of 2 hours a week for 10 weeks. For the first few weeks I got some help from my ITT Peer Mentor Jodie who came with me to work and after each shift we wrote up a work journal to say how I was getting on. As a Shop Assistant in Regatta I check shop standards to make sure that clothing and equipment on the rails and shelves always looks neat and appealing to customers. I also take in deliveries and I keep the store and stockroom tidy. Whenever there are customers about I always remember to acknowledge our customers and think ‘smile, ask and thank’ in order to help them.The team that I work with  are very nice, friendly and polite and quickly made me feel like part of the team. When my 10 weeks at Regatta finished they felt that I did such a good job that they kept me on which made me very happy to continue to be part of the team. This job has helped me to gain experience in employment and my confidence has been growing ever since I started working there. As a runner and cyclist I love to be in the shop because it sells lots of sports clothing, gear and equipment which I know loads about and can help other customers who are interested in sport. I am now in my 6^th month working at Regatta and hope to continue to grow with the team for a long long time". Adam

Update January 2018: 

The new year is here and for those of us looking to get outdoors and active a visit to the Regatta Great Outdoors Shop in The Square Tallaght is the perfect place to go to gear up. In just a few weeks one of their Sales Assistant’s, Adam, who is in his 2^nd year of WALK’s Real Life Training Programme, will be enjoying his 1 year anniversary at work and has really made a positive impact in this time.

Adam is a dedicated athlete, passionate about the merits of physical activity and thrives in working in an environment that encourages this. He is nothing but enthusiastic about his employment and say “being part of the Tallaght team for me is educational and very professional. The managers who run the store have shown me how we deal with customers, taught me money management skills, product knowledge and also about safety if there’s an emergency. Generally, how I feel about the whole team is that they have helped me to be proud, focused, determined and very positive. I love dealing with the deliveries when they are shipped in and acknowledging the customers who look for my help is a golden task. I also like the responsibility of checking store standards, making sure everything’s all cleaned up and that products are matching and in order correctly. I hope I can keep training, growing, building myself up and working in a united team. My 1 year anniversary at work is a milestone of what I have achieved so far and shows my progression with how well I have contributed and cooperated.”

Tallaght's Store management changed Regatta Ireland’s staffing policy in order to provide Adam with a 2 hour a week permanent contract. They are similarly delighted with how things have gone and says “since Regatta Tallaght started working in partnership with WALK and Adam became a part of the team we have had nothing but amazing experiences. From the first day that Adam walked through the door he has made us smile, laugh and consider communication styles in a way that we had never focused on before. His attitude towards life, in general, is something that brightens up our day every Thursday when he joins us. He is an upbeat, funny, and charming young man with such great qualities. Adam’s attention to detail at work is extremely good and we can see that the experience he has gained in his sales assistant position has given him greater self-confidence. Regatta Tallaght would not be the same without Adam. He is a credit to have here and an amazing personality. Our Adam is amazing and we love him dearly!!!!”

Following the success of WALK’s partnership with Regatta in Tallaght the retailer is committed to working with WALK students across other stores and plan to employ others in the near future. Regatta Great Outdoors provide us with a great example of how businesses can work differently to accommodate people with additional support needs. Get moving people and get supporting Regatta Great Outdoors Tallaght.