Reinserting marginalised groups into work through fashion

• Author: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (European Commission)
• Pages: 24-25

SOCIAL INNOVATION: INSPIRATIONAL PRACTICES

SUPPORTING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES

24

© MOMA Photographers, 2017

Women working in Cooperativa Quid

Reinserting marginalised groups into

work through fashion

Progetto Quid

Problem addressed

Labour market access is particularly dif‌f‌icult for disadvantaged

groups – such as victims of violence and human traf‌f‌icking,

ex-of‌fenders, migrants or people with disabilities. The gap in

employment rates between disadvantaged groups and the

adult population in Italy is reported to be the third largest in

the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

(OECD). Failure to secure stable, rewarding and dignif‌ied

employment can exacerbate material and psycho-social

disadvantage, contributing to a cycle of exclusion.

Innovative solution

Progetto Quid is a fashion company established in 2013 as

a social enterprise in Verona, Italy, that employs vulnerable

individuals who face signif‌icant employment barriers. The

enterprise collaborates with other social service projects to

support its benef‌iciaries in a range of areas. Through the

project Liberamente, employees can access services such

as psychological assistance and support when navigating

bureaucracy. These services are provided by a psychologist

and a welfare of‌f‌icer and are available at the Progetto Quid

premises once or twice a week.

The holistic support means that employees are provided

with a safe environment, a sense of belonging to a

community rather than being isolated and marginalised,

and opportunities to increase control over their own lives.

The skills learnt – digital and fashion skills – are in high

demand, increasing their employability.

The social enterprise combines its social impact focus

with a successful market strategy. Unlike other such

organisations, Progetto Quid has an entrepreneurial focus

that has enabled it to satisfy consumers and stakeholders

with its high-quality, stylish products and has thus become

f‌inancially sustainable.

Italy