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helping people, thought his age was a barrier and outdated skills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)