Tees Valley programme places 700 into
work
A programme that helps disadvantaged people find jobs in
Tees Valley is celebrating supporting its 700
th person
into work.
And to underline how the programme supports a
wide range of people, both a 16-year-old and a 60-year-old have
recently found jobs.
Through the European Social Fund, Working
Links helps disadvantaged people find work with support such as
mentoring, training, interview techniques and job search
activities.
Alongside practical support such as CV
building, customers are also helped with motivation and confidence
building, presentation and assertiveness training and numeracy and
literacy.
Sixteen-year-old Victoria Ingham had come to
Working Links with her mother who was looking for work, never
expecting that she would be the first one to find a job.
She was convinced that owing to her age she
wouldn’t be able to find a suitable position however, Working Links
consultant Trina Knight recognised that Victoria had a good
attitude and work ethic and put her forward for a retail job.
Despite being really nervous Victoria spent
time with Trina working on her interview technique and this all
paid off when she was offered the job at Bank clothing, where she
is now “loving it”.
Victoria added: “I can’t believe what
happened, I love having my own money and I want to say thanks to
Trina and everyone else who helped”
Bank has recognised Victoria’s potential and
despite her age she is now being trained to become a
supervisor.
Sixty-year-old David Craven had worked as an
Electrician with a bus company for 32 years and was really
concerned when he was made redundant last year as he felt his age
and living in a rural area would be a major barrier to ever working
again.
Working Links consultant Frank McCabe had
recently started an outreach service in Loftus and because David
had never been out of work before he needed help with job search
techniques, how to sell his skills and experience to employers and
how to stay motivated.
Commitment paid off and he was interviewed by
Cleveland Potash who had been impressed by his experience and the
loyalty and reliability he had demonstrated at Arriva. They offered
David a position, he passed his medical and started work in March
aged 60!
Performance Manager at Working Links, Paul Shepherd said:
“Helping 700 people find work especially in this climate is a real
achievement. Congratulations go to the hard working ESF team and
also to our clients whose determination to find work sometimes in
the face of serious barriers is very impressive. Their stories
should inspire others to realise that disadvantage doesn’t have to
be a blockage to finding work and being able to move on with their
lives.”