Working Futures

Posted 3rd February 2017
 

Projects < Working Futures

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Key Project Information
Project Name: Working Futures
Lead Organisation: Greenbank College
ESF value: £2,760,506
Duration: March 2016 – May 2018
Contact: Christopher O’Toole christopher.otoole@greenbank.org.uk

Project summary
The Working Futures project provides a personalised, flexible package of support to help up to 2,000 young people (16-29 year olds) who are not in education, employment or training to move towards a better future in employment.

The project works with those in need of additional support to help develop their skills and find work. Potential participants are assessed to identify their needs and the level of support required, and are then helped to move onto employment, self-employment, apprenticeships, further education or training.

Support can be short term (2 weeks), medium (10-12 weeks) or longer term (6-12 months) and include working on employability skills such as help with applications, CVs and interview preparation; personal development; increasing awareness of opportunities available and developing vocational skills.

Partnership

The project is delivered jointly by Greenbank College and the VOLA Consortium
(a consortium of voluntary, community and social enterprise sector service providers across Liverpool City Region).

All 22 delivery partners are not-for-profit training providers that really care about their local communities, who will ensure that those in need of additional support to help develop their skills and find work will receive the best possible service; whatever their starting point.

  • Greenbank College
  • Alt Valley Community Trust
  • Autism Together
  • Beechwood Community Trust
  • Big Help Project
  • Community IT Company
  • Crawford House
  • Employability Solutions
  • Everton Development Trust
  • Everton in the Community
  • Local Solutions
  • MPH Training
  • North Liverpool Regeneration Company
  • Phoenix Community & Youth Project
  • Power in Partnership
  • Rotunda
  • St Helens Chamber
  • Sefton EBP
  • Tomorrow's People Trust
  • Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council (MACTAC)
  • VOLA Consortium
  • Youth Federation

Partnership manager – for general enquiries contact Lois Perry on 0151 920 0726 (ext. 211)

Expected Key Outputs / Results
2,000 individuals will be supported by this project.

Gerry Kinsella, Greenbank’s Chief Executive said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and to be able to offer this vital service to young people and make a real difference to local communities. All of the partners have a vital role to play in ensuring the programme’s success and it is an honour to be leading such an experienced partnership.”

Beneficiary Experiences

 

 

Hoping for a career in catering

Thanks to the support received on the Working Futures programme, Hayder Hameed, aged 20, is currently a Greenbank College student, studying City and Guilds Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Food Preparation and Cooking and hopes to get a job in the industry, when he finishes his course.

Hayder has faced a lot of challenges in his life so far and left school with no qualifications. He spent a number of years out of education before his doctor told him about the support available through the Working Futures programme.

Through the project, the staff team, based at Greenbank were able to work with Hayder to support him to make positive choices about his future.

He was helped to update his CV and think seriously about a future career. As a result of this he applied to study catering at Greenbank College and has been attending regularly since September 2016.

Hayder said:
“Working Futures offers help for young people who want to get out the house and get busy. Things are looking a lot brighter for me now and I really love my catering course.”

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It’s important to get out the house

Adam Jones, aged 17 left school in 2015 and was enrolled on a college course, but things didn’t work out. In the end he was out of education for over a year.

Things changed when a Career Connect advisor told Adam about the help and support available for young people, not in education or employment, through the Working Futures programme.

He started to come to Greenbank three times a week for sessions covering things like completing application forms, creating a CV and staying safe online.

Getting out the house and mixing with other young people made Adam feel more confident about planning his future.

He decided to enrol at Greenbank College to re-take GCSE Maths and he will do this in the summer of 2017.

He also hopes to enrol on a catering course and improve his level of English for the 2017/18 academic year.

Adam commented:
“I enjoy coming to college, the atmosphere is nice and relaxed and I’m making progress on my maths course – it’s starting to make sense.

If I hadn’t been referred to Working Futures, I’d still be sitting at home and I’ve realised that it is important to get out the house and interact with other people and plan my future.”

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Callum follows his dream to be a mechanic

Callum, joined Working Futures at The Big Help Project in Kirkby in January 2017.

When he started on the programme, it was his goal to be a mechanic and through the support that he has received from Working Futures staff he has now secured a placement with Autofix.

This resulted from the employablility support, including collating certificates, CV building and training, offered by the programme.

Callum commented:

“I was given a lot of help and support regarding CV, Job Search and having my certificates collected. This helped me gain confidence in gaining a placement with Autofix.

I feel I was given a lot of time and personal effort from The Big Help Project and they all made me feel very welcome when I was at appointments. They even rang the bell and gave me a card when I was starting my job - I am going to make a donation to them.

Since I have worked with Autofix I feel part of another team and my mechanical skills have really improved.”

His manager, Kenny said:

“It’s great to see a young man who has a work ethic like Callum. He turns up for work every day before us! He has never had a day off and is very competent around cars.”

Callum hopes to join Autofix permanently at the end of his placement.

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