Jason (31)
We first met Jason in 2008 when he was unemployed and claiming income support due to being a lone parent. He had a vast amount of experience within construction, (Labouring, Ground Work) but did not have any qualifications in this area. He started an NVQ Level 3 within bricklaying but never completed this. The barriers he faced were around child care and low qualifications. He had a daughter and so had to be able to find a chilminder for the times where he was unable to pick her up or take her to school. He had also been in prison which has put employers off. Jason was told about the services at the One Stop Shop by the Job Centre Plus Office.
Initially one of our Employment Advisors conducted an IAG where they just talked through Jason's past experience, short and long term goals, barriers, skills and any training he wanted to do. We compiled a CV for Jason and we started job searching regularly. We were also able to provide Jason with a full suit for interviews, thanks to a donation from a local designer. We managed to help Jason secure temporary jobs in 2008 and 2009, but in 2010, Jason found employment as a labourer, which he was very happy about. However, the story doesn't end there! We also helped Jason fill out an application form for a City Council Construction Apprenticeship and as a result, Jason has been offered an Apprenticeship with the City Council and at the time of writing this article, (04 May 2010) Jason is awaiting his start date, whilst still working as a labourer.
Jason says "The One Stop Shop has been helping me for the past 3 years. They have always been there with advice when I needed it. without them, I would have struggled to get to where I am today"
Lee (49)
We engaged with Lee when he was passing the One Stop Shop and was interested in a job vacancy in our window. Lee was a single man who had been unemployed for alsmost a year and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance. Lee's main qualifications were from when he left school, but he had done some short courses between 1989 and 2007 covering Health and Safety and First Aid. Lee's background was in Warehousing and Distribution, where he had worked for most of his life, until being made redundant. Lee's main barriers were lack of confidence, no idea what he wanted to do, looking for a total career change working and helping people, thought his age was a barrier and outdated skills and qualifications.
Initially one of our Employment Advisors conducted an IAG to discuss the options available around changing his career.So, what happened next? Well, Lee is now employed by the Meadows Partnership Trust as a Trainee Employment Advisor, under the Future Jobs Fund Initiative and is based at the One Stop Shop. He has started his NVQ Level 3 Advice and Guidance with Next Step, which is fully funded. In a very short space of time, Lee has become a very valued member of the team. Even though Lee has never done this type of work before, he had a lot of transferable skills that can be used for this type of work.
So how does Lee feel about his new job? "I never thought that it would be possible at my age to totally change my career path and re-train. Meadows One Stop Shop Staff have helped me to do this. I am now very happy to be working with the Team and supporting people in the area where I live back into training, voluntary work and employment"
Safeena (20)
We engaged with Safeena when she was referred to us by Job Centre Plus. Safeena is single and still lives with her parents in The Meadows. Safeena was working as a midday assistant at a Childs Nursery for 1 hou per day and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance. She was looking for support to help her learn new skills and gain alternative, sustainable employment. Her main barriers were lack of confidence, a fragmented work history and no skills in what she wanted to do, which was Administration/Reception.
Once again, one of our Employment Advisors conducted an IAG to see what advice and support we could offer. The good news is that Safeena is now employed by the Meadows Partnership Trust, as a Trainee Receptionist, again under the Future Jobs Fund Initiative and is based at the One Stop Shop, supporting the Team that helped her find the position. She has also started her NVQ Level 2 in Business Asministration, which again is fully funded. Like Lee, Safeena has quickly become a valued member of the team.
Safeena says "I am really happy to have been offered a job with the Meadows One Stop Shop Team. I have started my training which will help me in the future to find other employment, as the funding for my post only lasts for a year. I know I will not want to leave, as I enjoy working here so much"
(This Page was updated on 4th May 2010)