OUR SOCIAL CAUSE
Our mission is to offer confidence and hope to young autistic people by providing employment and free training.
Looking for work experience? Click here for more information.
THE PROBLEM WITH AUTISM EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK
700,000
people are autistic
85%
of them are unemployed, and 61% are desperate to work
11%
carers work full-time
51%
have spent time without a job or access to benefits
The harry specters formula for creating opportunities for autistic people
In order to carry out our social mission, we have identified a number of activities that help generate social value.
Our social impact framework, which includes theory of change, can be found here.
How we've helped
Since starting in November 2012, we have helped over 300 autistic people. Alongside this we've supported more than 155 carers/parents, making their lives just that little bit easier.
Autistic people have contributed to the business in different ways including making, packaging and selling chocolates for our online and corporate customers. Some of them have also been involved in admin, design work and photography.
Through this work they've all learnt new skills resulting in increased confidence, hope, and aspirations for their future.
To find out more about available work experience and employment opportunities, please get in touch.
from 2018 - 2021
2,697,089
Chocolates produced by Harry Specters. That's more than one chocolate for every person in Cambridgeshire (our home county)!
29,392
Employment hours provided for 35 employees and 1871 work experience hours for 60 young Autistic people.
£283,127
worth of of social value generated for the UK economy by hiring amazing young Autistic people and helping them secure a great job and become independent.
7% premium
Paid on every kg of cacao we sourced from farmers. As a responsible business, we also care about the people who supply our chocolate.
On average, in the last 5 years, for every £1 spent at Harry Specters, 69p directly benefitted the lives of young autistic people and their families through paid employment, free work experience, and free training opportunities.
Social Impact Report – 2022
Social Impact Report – 2021
Social Impact Report – 2020
Social Impact Report – 2019
Social Impact Report – 2018
Social Impact Report – 2017
Social Impact Report – 2016
Social Impact Report – 2015
Social Impact Report – 2013/14
One of the key outcomes is successfully creating an autism friendly work place. In such a workplace, autistic people can contribute to various tasks in order to create value for themselves and for Harry Specters.
Every single order means the world to us. And the more orders we receive, the more consistent work we are able to generate for our employees.
From your very first purchase we'll keep you posted on how much you've helped. Look at it this way, you get to enjoy award-winning chocolates whilst knowing you've made a difference.
"I like going to Harry Specters because the people there are nice."
- Bruce / Chocolatier & Full-Time Employee
Harry's gave my son a chance and he fitted in to the workplace and made new friends. He now has a new sense of self-worth and believes in himself again. I am very proud!"
- Parent of Employee
"An amazing opportunity to work and learn to make chocolates from the chocolate machines."
- Greg / Chocolatier & Full-Time Employee
“I get quite emotional thinking about the look on my son's face when he showed me the cheque you gave him for his work. It was not about the money, but the confidence and self-worth he was feeling.”
- Parent of Employee
