Community Souls started as an idea circa 2011 while I was working with children and young people in and around the Grange and Dollis Valley estates in North London.

Over my time working there, parents, siblings, and people in the area would ask for work - whether it was because of the recent cost of living crisis or they themselves, or someone they knew, had recently come out of prison, or they were a single parent on an emergency / temporary housing tenancy finding it hard to make ends meet and in need of a flexible job that worked with their benefits set-up and life commitments - rather than against them.

I found myself each week in a community centre or dotted around council estate flats being asked to help with their CVs, searching for jobs, applying for them and, if lucky, helping with the preparation for an interview. It was clear that accessible jobs were needed and that for whatever reason these individuals were furthest removed from the employment market.

10 years in social impact.

The Grange and Dollis Valley estates were important to Community Souls for a number of reasons. It was important to keep the DNA (the soul) of the estates in the makeup of the company - which went on to form our social enterprise identity.

It had no start-up funding or magical angel investors. A £500 donation kick-started things and a willing first employee.

Our first contract started with a combination of determination and a bit of luck as we hustled to turn the vision into a reality and as time went on and our local recruitment drive picked up, so did our standards in cleaning and company reputation. Ten years in, showcasing a portfolio of clients, incl London Community Foundation, Conduit Capital, Barnet Council, YMCA, from across the London’s charity, education, voluntary & community, statutory and private sectors, demonstrating their commitment to social value.

Along the way the small start-up community interest company became a certified member of SEUK, a trusted supplier of Supply Change and an accredited and recognised London Living Wage employer.

The systematic oppression, along with the social, political, economic, and financial history, context, and landscape continued to press down hard on the communities I was working in, creating barriers to opportunity and perpetuating cycles of poverty and disadvantage.

30 people employed + supported. 22 clients. One idea..

There were no zero hour contracts - we offered fixed term employment to ensure staff received fair sick and holiday pay, and have greater job security. The in-house Personal Development Coach worked with staff to develop a trusted relationship and get them moving in the direction they wanted - which you could imagine came with its challenges and complexities. Practical, direct support was key throughout the 10 years in addressing the barriers to long-term employment ie. housing, legal or financial health as well as their overall wellbeing ie. physical and mental health - the pay off we saw was access to further employment, qualifications, training and an overall improved lifestyle.

Down the line, support became available from winning grants and small pockets of funding. In a competitive market, our social values and commitment to community development and social responsibility helped us standout and go from a local cleaning service to pan London.

There was the machine behind the cleaning and front facing work, that kept salaries paid and cleaning materials in use. A theory of change model was developed to demonstrate our method and impact.

It wasn’t a traditional cleaning company, so we didnt operate or think like one.

The most important aspect of Community Souls is the incredible people we worked with. Their lives, backgrounds, and stories, as well as their time with us, will always be remembered with dignity. Unlike typical case studies, their journeys at Community Souls Cleaning Company are deeply personal and meaningful. We extend our gratitude to acknowledge their invaluable contributions, hard work, and unwavering belief in the organisation. Community Souls would not have existed without them.

‘‘We were giving people an old school, two hands, one foot, get ya friend over the wall bunk up’’ - a colleague and dear friend said once.

When I think of Community Souls’ 10 years - I think of starting something and finishing it. I think of the blocks that I came from. I think of the people, the opportunity.

In closing, the plan was simple - keep it simple !. With the help and support from many - and in loving memory of Sean & Jo - none of this would have been possible without them.