Real Work

The best social program is a job. Meaningful work is an essential element of life.

Stable and meaningful employment is an important contributor to physical health, mental health and quality of life. We believe that everyone has the capacity to work and can benefit from it. Work that is valued by the employee, employer and society helps people build skills and confidence while adding value to the community.

Stella’s Circle offers a range of employment and education programs to assist people who have had limited work experience or interrupted career paths in finding and maintaining employment. We help people discover their talents and we create opportunities for work that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Work Experience

We offer practical workplace-based learning to suit individual participant interests, needs and abilities. These placements provide opportunities for future employment and ensure a suitable fit for employer and employee.

We offer social enterprise training and employment in three streams:

  • The Hungry Heart Café offers training to help people enter the food service industry as cooks, servers, or kitchen staff.
  • The Trades Helper Program allows participants to gain practical experience in the construction trades.
  • Clean Start provides on-the-job training in commercial cleaning and maintenance.

We offer twelve week workplace based experience placements. Trainees work alongside industry professionals which can include Red Seal Chefs, experienced carpenters and commercial cleaners based on the chosen field of training. Individuals learn introductory skills of the trade and workplace expectations. Participants also receive valuable industry recognized certificates including First Aid, WHMIS and others. Upon graduation from their program, trainees are supported to find, transition to and maintain employment.

We also offer short-term transitionary work, CanDo!, for adults who have experienced serious mental health issues or have other significant barriers to employment. Participants may work between 1 and 15 hours per week on a variety of group and individual projects. People are paid minimum wage for the hours worked. Individual support and counselling is offered to help participants complete their work and achieve their goals.

We accept self-referrals or referrals from others including health care providers, family counselling agencies, employment programs, community partners, government departments, or family and friends of individuals seeking work.

Referral/Application Form

Employment Counselling and Support Transition Groups

Stella’s Circle assesses participants for employment potential, career decision making and provides individual counselling and support. Participants can engage in a range of options to address their varying needs as they move towards employment. Employment Counsellors help participants build their interpersonal and work based skills enabling them to be successful in the workplace. Groups include Skills Discovery, Employment Motivation and Work Orientation Workshops. Groups range in duration from four to twelve weeks and are recommended after an initial assessment of an individual’s goals and needs. Topics can include personal development and life skills, career exploration and concrete topics to assist in preparing for employment. Classroom groups are combined with a variety of workplace and other experiential learning. The program is designed for adults who have experienced serious mental health issues and have had limited work experience. Individuals who are uncertain around job search and entering the workforce will benefit from an opportunity to consider employment options, determining the steps and supports necessary to achieve their goals as well as assistance identifying additional training they may require.

Referral/Application Form

Stella’s Circle Employment Services
114 Cabot Street
St. John’s, NL
A1C 1Z8
T – 709.579.1181
E – [email protected]

Adult Basic Education-Level 1

Adult Basic Education (ABE) Level I offers basic literacy and numeracy education in a supportive environment through delivery of standardized provincial government curriculum. Level 1 is equivalent to grades 1-6 in the K-12 school system. Our ABE course is offered in small groups of up to 12 students and is structured around the specific needs of each participant. We support participants through their learning, providing them with as much time as they need to complete each component.

We accept self-referrals or referrals from others including health care providers, family counselling agencies, employment assistance services, community partners, government departments, or family and friends of individuals seeking work. Admission is continuous; please contact us to learn more.

Referral/Application Form

For information on our education programs please contact:

Stella’s Circle ABE
114 Cabot Street
St. John’s, NL
A1C 1Z8
T – 709.579.1181; 579.2738
F – 709.754.1521
E – [email protected]