Training Company Donates £25,000 to Homeless Charity

When training company employees traded their desks for a charity food service line, they discovered something more valuable than any course they teach.

In-Comm Training, a West Midlands apprenticeship provider, just wrapped up a year of supporting Good Shepherd Wolverhampton with over £25,000 in contributions. The commitment combined hands-on volunteering, professional training courses, and creative fundraising to help people facing homelessness, poverty, and addiction.

Staff from the Aldridge and Telford academies rolled up their sleeves for 138 hours of volunteer work at the charity's Waterloo Road headquarters. Trainers, administrators, and managers all took turns serving meals and supporting daily operations.

But the partnership went far beyond food service. In-Comm provided seven specialist training courses to Good Shepherd staff, including mental health first aid, presentation skills, and workplace safety training. Service users even attended company away days, sharing their personal stories of how the charity changed their lives.

The fundraising creativity really stood out. Teams organized raffles, assault courses, and even a Northern Soul disco. Five brave employees spent a freezing night outdoors at the Molineux Sleepout, raising money and awareness.

Managing Director Gareth Jones took on the Warwickshire UK Triathlon and plans to run the London Marathon in April to close out the partnership. These efforts raised £5,000 for homeless outreach and prevention programs.

The Ripple Effect

Dutch Holland, HR and learning development manager, said volunteers described their experiences as "humbling, eye-opening, and deeply rewarding." Many gained new perspective on how quickly anyone can face hardship.

The impact rippled through the organization. Several staff members told Holland they wanted to do even more volunteering in the future after hearing service users' stories.

Lee Smith, operations manager at Good Shepherd, emphasized how corporate partnerships make their mission possible. The training delivered to staff helps the charity operate more professionally while serving vulnerable people better.

In-Comm isn't stopping with this success. The company named Midlands Air Ambulance as its 2026 Charity of the Year while continuing to support Good Shepherd's work fighting homelessness and poverty.

Sometimes the best training happens outside the classroom, when people discover the power of showing up for their community.