Date: 1 May 2008

 

After overcoming several challenges to get back to work, single dad Ollie Skinner, has said a big thank you this week to the Plymouth team at Working Links who helped him reach his goals. He has just become the 300^th single parent to start employment in the city from the lone parent support programme which was launched in 2006. 

 

“As a single parent I always felt supported with Working Links by my side,” Ollie said. “I was given practical, emotional and financial help when I needed it. I was really worried about getting suitable childcare for Oskar, my two-year-old son.”

 

Sarah Harry, Working Links consultant, had first met Ollie through her partnership work with the Kids and Dads organisation, and had discussed the support available to help him look for work, also advising on suitable childcare.  Both Ollie and Oskar then joined a group of lone parents on a visit to Jump, organised and funded by Working Links, where he met Chris Blackham, a Working Links job search consultant and they booked some time together.

 

After some interview practice with Chris, Ollie successfully secured a chefs job at the Admiral McBride Pub on the Barbican.  But a set of chef’s knives, travel costs to work, and paying for initial childcare was still proving a barrier, and that’s where Working Links stepped in again so that Ollie could focus on making a start on his new career.

 

To mark this significant milestone a presentation will be taking place outside the Admiral McBride pub on the Barbican this Friday (02/05/08) at 11am.  Where Ollie and Oskar will be receiving a gift from Working Links.

 

Debbie Joce, Performance Manager at Working Links said: “Getting back to work can be a scary experience for anyone, but especially if you have responsibility for bringing up children on your own.”