Our social mission
We don't just give things, but also people a second chance. In our social mission, people who are far from the labor market are given the opportunity for development that brings them closer to self-sufficiency through job training, internships and community.
Erikshjälpen Second Hand's social mission
Erikshjälpen Second Hand has a comprehensive social mission through which we want to contribute to personal development, a path to working life and a safer everyday life. Therefore, our stores and hubs offer community and workplace activities for people in social or economic vulnerability. By working specifically with parents and guardians, we also improve the future prospects of many children and young people. This is part of our child rights work.
How we help people get closer to work
Many people are currently outside the labor market. Therefore, Erikshjälpen Second Hand receives around 5,000 people every year for internships, job training, probation and other interventions in collaboration with municipalities, authorities and schools. The participants get the opportunity for personal development, professional skills, social networks and language training.
In October 2024, Erikshjälpen Second Hand had 1229 trainees, 308 people with supported employment, 177 people in probation and also 403 young people who had summer jobs.
The distribution of employees in 2024
Employees
The distribution of employees in 2024
16%
Employees with a fixed-term or permanent contract, with or without a wage subsidy.
48%
Employees who are volunteers and give of their time.
36%
Employees placed with us for internships, job training or other interventions.
Internships and job training
In Erikshjälpen Second Hand's stores and hubs, we offer both internships and job training. Internships give participants the opportunity to develop professional skills and prepare for the demands of working life. Work training is a first step for those who need support in their return to working life, with a focus on personal development and security in the work role. Achieving self-sufficiency is a great gain for the individual and for society.
We have a developed methodology to strengthen trainees' learning and development. It consists of:
- The Supervise in Practice methodology that trains the skills required by working life and makes the practice individualized.
- Impact measurement where we follow up on the practice at group level to ensure that the interventions are producing the desired results.
- Activities that strengthen the social mission in several locations in the form of the conversation course Ett Gott Liv and industry-specific introductory training in, for example, shop work and cleaning.
For many, an internship or employment with us is the first step into the Swedish labor market.
Our impact measurement shows that work ability increases by an average of 44% for our trainees in their first three months.
Employment with support
After completing the internship, Erikshjälpen Second Hand can sometimes offer temporary employment for individuals entitled to employment support through the Swedish Public Employment Service. For the individual, this means a step closer to working life through further development, new references and a job in their CV.
How does practice relate to children's rights?
With a special focus on parents and guardians in our social mission, we improve the future prospects of many children and young people. Getting out into activity breaks isolation. And when a parent gains increased well-being, empowerment and livelihood, it affects the whole family's life situation, not least the children. The most effective way to counteract child poverty and unequal growing conditions in Sweden today is for parents to have their own livelihood. Therefore, Erikshjälpen Second Hand works purposefully with parents and guardians in practice to reach children in vulnerable life situations. Through the social mission, we send home strengthened parents to over 4000 children every year.
We send home happier, more confident, more empowered, healthier, more competent parents of over 4,000 children.
Meaningful employment through daily activities
Erikshjälpen Second Hand cooperates with the municipalities' daily activities to offer more meaningful employment. The participants work with everything from sorting and restoring gifts, cleaning and storage to shop and kafé.
In 2024, 38 of Erikshjälpen Second Hand's stores and hubs collaborated with various municipalities' daily activities.
I enjoy it. It's fun to have something to do, to meet others. I like to fix things in the shop and there's a good sense of community here.
Volunteers create engagement and community
Our volunteers are an important part of our social mission. Volunteers not only contribute to our surplus but also create a safe social environment in our stores and hubs. They come from different backgrounds, interests and experiences - and together they form a unique community. Volunteers choose to get involved themselves and thus spread both job satisfaction and commitment to the entire organization.
Volunteers are an important support for trainees and job trainees. Volunteers can share their experience and support those who are new to the world of work, recovering from illness or need language training.
Take a look at our Sustainability Report
The sustainability report covers Erikshjälpen Second Hand's activities in 2024. It describes the long-term goals and what has been achieved so far within the three perspectives of sustainability; environmental, social and economic.
Read Erikshjälpen's Sustainability Report 2024
Related reading
Questions and answers
We accept trainees from various sources. To get a traineeship with us, you should be registered and have an administrator at, for example, the employment service, social services, health care or education. In consultation with your case officer, you will contact the shop or hub you are interested in doing a traineeship in. If there are vacancies, a study visit will be arranged during which you will plan the objectives, structure and scope of the traineeship together.
You can find contact details for all our businesses on the Find a Store and Opening Hours.
If you are the case manager for a participant who may be suitable for a traineeship or work training in one of our operations, contact the operations manager of the shop or hub you are interested in. If there are vacancies, a study visit will be booked during which you will plan together the objectives, structure, scope and Monitoring of the traineeship.
You can find contact details for all our businesses on the Find a Store and Opening Hours.
Our activities consist of many different departments and possible tasks. The content of the traineeship is planned based on the individual's needs, conditions and goals. We prepare tasks that will lead to the trainee gaining the skills needed to take a step further into the labor market. You can learn about transportation, warehouse management, sorting and valuation of recycling, shop work, kafé or cleaning. There are always knowledgeable tutors on site.
The duration and scope of the traineeship is planned in consultation, based on the individual's needs, conditions and goals. It can be from a few weeks up to six months.
Published: 23 October 2025
Listening 