The people of Providence Row

By Kaitlyn, our US intern

On the first day I came to work at Providence Row, I nervously got to Aldgate an excessive hour early to survey the area. I sat at a coffee shop nearby and wondered what the next two months would hold for me. The Kaitlyn that sat in that coffee shop two months ago could not have imagined the impact Providence Row was about to have on her. 

I was part of the Enterprise and Training Team under the supervision of Andrea, who coordinates Rise Bakery, the social enterprise of Providence Row. As a Marketing major back in the States I wanted to gain business experience for my future career, and Andrea was incredibly attentive to this. I was able to shadow and be a part of nearly every aspect of Providence Row including marketing, fundraising, training schemes and the reception. I was able to see the business operations that go along with managing a successful charity, but I found that more importantly to me, I was able to build relationships with both co-workers and the people using the service that I will always cherish. The people of Providence Row opened my eyes to a world which before I couldn’t have even begun to understand. They showed me how everyone deserves, and needs, someone to believe in them.

During my time at Providence Row, I was welcomed openly by both staff and clients. I felt I was cared about and and that the staff wanted me to get the most out of my time here - I got exactly that. Providence Row showed me the power of not judging, but instead accepting and caring. The reason that it’s so terribly hard to say good-bye is because the people here have created a home for not just for the people using the services, but for me as well. 

Thank you people of Providence Row!