Coleo as social support
In previous posts you’ve read about how Coleo works as a textile recycling company and its concern for the environment (terms like textile to textile, closed/open loop, pre/post consumer might ring a bell…). Today we want to show you the other side of Coleo, the one our colleague Álvaro hinted at in previous texts: that of a Special Employment Centre (SEC).
But first, what is a SEC?
These are workplaces dedicated to employing at least 70% of staff with disabilities, who are given the chance to carry out productive and paid work in an environment adapted to their needs.
Why do SECs exist?
They arise to offer vulnerable groups the possibility to participate in the labour market, as well as to allow employers to discover the potential of this community. In this way, a dignified job opportunity is offered, which increases people’s autonomy.
Currently, 65% of people with disabilities are unemployed, and in many cases, it’s not due to their circumstances but due to lack of awareness.
Now that we know this, let me tell you about Coleo as a SEC.
Our project began in 2021 in Galicia, with the company’s first textile recycling plant named Coleo Recycling, which took on the challenge of serving as a guide for the next plants that have been opened (Catalonia) or are going to be opened (Galicia, France…).
At the beginning, the plant had only 5 employees, and we have now grown to 35, with 84% of the staff having functional diversity (psychological, physical, and sensory).
But meeting numbers is not our only goal — it’s also about the support service we provide to our team, knowing that they belong to a group that faces more vulnerabilities.
We’re talking about moral support, offering advice and tools, helping them in their daily lives and with both interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts (from guiding them in making a medical appointment, supporting them through a difficult family situation, or giving them tools to manage their emotions).
It’s also about knowing their abilities and needs in order to adapt the job roles and find their ideal place.
Working here is not always easy — you have to be strong, patient and consistent, and carry out close follow-up with the staff to prevent their spirits from dropping at times. Even so, it is a very rewarding task, as every day we contribute to the social and labour inclusion of individuals.
Moreover, we are not alone in this challenge, as we work alongside associations and foundations such as Aspronaga and Paideia, who are always there when we need guidance.
We are enthusiastic about the results of our work, both in environmental and social terms, and we continue to grow in number of plants, staff and production. Therefore, we have decided that our next step will be to turn our recycling plants into Special Employment Centres.
At Coleo, we encourage you to get to know and give opportunities to this profile of worker.
Cristina Villaverde – Social Integration Specialist
