FAITH IN FAMILIES is celebrating a growing partnership with Nando’s Fforestfach Retail Park, following a collaboration that has already created employment opportunities, food support and practical improvements for children, families and communities across Swansea Bay.
The partnership began when Tom Lucking, DtRT Project Manager at Nando’s, heard about the work of Faith in Families’ Inspiring Futures project, which supports people to build confidence, gain skills and move closer to employment.
Tom got in touch to explore how Nando’s could work with the charity ahead of the opening of its new restaurant at Fforestfach Retail Park.
What started as a conversation about employability quickly became something much bigger.
Through Inspiring Futures, five local young people were supported through a tailored employability programme. As part of their preparation for work, they completed accredited training in Food Hygiene through Expert LMS, alongside Customer Service training, giving them practical skills, confidence and recognised learning before applying for roles.
Expert LMS, a UK-based learning management system provider, already supports Faith in Families by providing free access to its learning platform and courses for staff, volunteers and learners. Their support meant the young people involved could access high-quality training that helped prepare them for real employment opportunities.
Following the training, all five young people were referred to Nando’s as potential candidates. Two attended the recruitment day and successfully secured jobs at the new Fforestfach Retail Park restaurant.
Faith in Families staff and volunteers were recently invited to Nando’s Fforestfach Retail Park for a dry run event ahead of opening, where the two new team members were already doing incredible work.
For Faith in Families, this was a proud full-circle moment.
The charity had helped provide training, encouragement and a pathway into employment, Expert LMS helped provide the skills development, and Nando’s gave local young people the opportunity to step into real roles with confidence.
Suzanne Baker, Community Impact Manager at Faith in Families, said: “Seeing the two team members thriving at Nando’s was such a powerful moment.
“This is exactly what Inspiring Futures is about, helping people recognise their own strengths, build confidence and take real steps towards work and independence.
“This partnership has already made a difference, not just through jobs, but through food support, practical help and genuine community connection. Nando’s saw the work we were doing and asked, ‘How can we help?’ That is what strong partnerships look like.”
The partnership has also led to wider support for Faith in Families and the communities it serves.
Through the relationship with Nando’s, the charity was introduced to an organisation that enabled surplus food donations to be received via FareShare. These donations are already helping Faith in Families provide nutritious meals for families experiencing hardship, support children accessing services, and offer special treats during community activities and adult learner celebrations.
Nando’s also helped improve facilities at Teilo’s Community Cwtch by arranging practical support through contractors involved in the construction of the new restaurant. The team also donated a new freezer, allowing Faith in Families to safely store chicken received through FareShare collections and make the most of every donation.
The impact reaches far beyond one restaurant opening.
Faith in Families supports children, families and people across Swansea Bay through its Community Cwtches, Brighter Futures, Inspiring Futures and Multibank Cymru. The charity provides practical support, emotional support and opportunities that help people feel supported, connected and able to move forward.
Through Inspiring Futures, people can access training, qualifications, employability support, confidence-building and one-to-one encouragement. For many, this is the first step towards believing in themselves again.
Natasha Cardone, Inspiring Futures Lead at Faith in Families, said: “This has been such a positive partnership. The young people involved gained recognised training, support and real interview opportunities. For two of them to then secure jobs is a fantastic outcome.
“Employment is about so much more than income. It gives people confidence, structure, experience and future aspirations. That can change how someone sees themselves and what they believe is possible.”
Helen Bowden, Managing Director of Expert LMS, said: “Expert LMS has always been focused on enabling people to grow, learn and achieve their potential. We are proud to support the vital work that Faith in Families does in Swansea and beyond.
“By offering free access to our platform, we can play a part in equipping both staff and learners with the tools they need to succeed. It is fantastic to see that training helping create real opportunities for local young people.”
The Nando’s partnership shows what can happen when businesses and community organisations work together with purpose.
It brings together training, employment, food redistribution, facilities support and a shared commitment to local people.
Ross Williams, Partner Patrão at Nando’s Fforestfach Retail Park, said: “Opening a new restaurant is always exciting, but being able to create opportunities for local people makes it even more meaningful.
“Working with Faith in Families has shown us the difference that the right support, training and encouragement can make.
“The two new team members who joined us through Inspiring Futures have already brought so much positivity, and it has been brilliant to see them growing in confidence.
“For us, this partnership is about more than recruitment. It is about being part of the community, supporting local people and making sure our new restaurant opens with real local connection at its heart.”
For those facing financial pressure, food support can ease impossible choices. For children, it can mean a nutritious meal during a difficult week. For adult learners, it can mean feeling celebrated after taking brave steps back into education or training.
For the young people who secured employment, the impact is even more personal. A job can bring income, independence, routine, confidence and a sense of future possibility.
Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, said: “Partnerships like this are incredibly important because they create real opportunities.
“Nando’s came to us wanting to make a difference, and that openness has already helped local people move into work, helped families access food support and strengthened the community services we provide.
“We are also hugely grateful to Expert LMS, whose support helps our learners gain the skills and confidence they need to take those next steps.
“At Faith in Families, we believe nobody should have to face life’s toughest moments alone. When businesses, charities and communities work together, we can create practical change that lasts.”
Faith in Families would like to recognise Tom Lucking, Ross Williams, Partner Patrão at Nando’s Fforestfach Retail Park, the whole Nando’s team, and Expert LMS for their support, belief and commitment to local people.
Together, Faith in Families, Nando’s and Expert LMS are not just opening doors to employment. They are helping build brighter futures for individuals, families and communities across Swansea Bay.
Visit Faith in Families’ website for more information.
To find out more about Nando’s Fforestfach Retail Park, click here.
To find out more about the learning management system provider, visit Expert LMS’s website.
