The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
GETTING YOU BACK IN THE JOBS GAME
What has sport got to do with employability? out how getting moving can help you get back in the game found
L ike many organisations, social inclusion charity School of Hard Knocks has had to change and adapt the way it offers support since March last year.
The charity uses the values of rugby to tackle issues related to unemployment, crime and health.
Here in Scotland, their work so far has focused on young people in schools in Fife and Glasgow and adults across the country.
In response to the Covid crisis, School of Hard Knocks initially looked to maintain connection with participants and support them during lockdown but as the situation progressed their approach had to change, too.
According to the charity’s Megan Gaffney: “As the pandemic progressed, it became clear that it was affecting almost every industry and unemployment was rising.
“The Back in the Game course was put together by our leadership team as a direct response to those finding themselves out of work. The fully online course is a shortened, high-impact version of our traditional course, with all sessions being delivered face-to-face over Zoom.
“It gives participants the opportunity to learn new ways of thinking, boost their confidence and brush up on their employability skills, all while gaining that social aspect many of us are missing.”
Being made redundant is a stressful experience at any time but, as the team at the School of Hard Knocks were quick to identify, “this is magnified at the moment with new employment opportunities appearing so few, especially for those whose industries are most affected by the pandemic. It can have a very negative impact on an individual’s mental wellbeing and often people are left with a sense of worthlessness.
“This is turn can lead to a real dip in motivation and drop in confidence. Physically, people might find they aren’t as interested in taking as good care of themselves, or if days have less structure they might find exercise routines slipping.”
Back in the Game offers people the chance to connect with others who are going through similar tough times. The course gives participants the chance to get some structure back in their day and give them a feeling of self-worth.
Senior course facilitator and former rugby player Calum Gauld leads the delivery of the sessions which are a mixture of one-toone support focusing on the participants’ individual goals, mindfulness and physical sessions delivered by top fitness instructors, rugby players and Olympic athletes.
“The fitness sessions are important, as this is an area often forgotten about,” says Megan. “It’s amazing how much better you feel after a bit of exercise! Especially first thing in the morning, it can make your whole day much more productive. The mind sessions will help participants reframe things they’ve usually viewed in a negative light.
“For example, sessions on growth mind-set and goal-setting will encourage those who feel they are stuck in a rut to look outside the box and approach things in a different way.
“The future sessions contain more practical advice for actually looking for work, along with a refresher on best practice for CVS and interview prep.
“Again, participants will be encouraged to look at different ways of doing things, for example asking friends and family if they know of work, which they may not have done in a while, if ever.
“We have found on a lot of our courses this is the most common way people find work, but is not the most popular way of looking for jobs. We’ll also address Zoom interviews as this is likely to be the way they are carried out for a while.
“And at the end of the week, each participant will have the opportunity to have a mock interview with one of our corporate partners to practise everything they have learned during the week.”
For anyone feeling anxious about joining the course or starting something new when they are feeling low, Megan urges them to give it a try: “There is no judgment and the staff are experts in employability. It’s a chance for people to get a bit of structure back in their day and give them a feeling of self-worth.
“There are opportunities for participants to push themselves out of their comfort zone but at no point will they be asked to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
“The physical sessions also do wonders for self-confidence and fill people with a renewed motivation. School of Hard Knocks aims to support people and help them reframe issues they once saw in a negative light, to see them in a more positive way.”
Former participant Rebekha took part in Back in the Game in November. “I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for the course,” she says.
“I wasn’t feeling the best mentally and so I was anxious about doing something with new people. Right from the beginning I felt welcome and supported, and by the end of the week I was confident to give my opinion freely.
“The exercise and mindfulness was a great way to start the morning and it really focused you. Then I learned so much in the employability sessions with amazing interview tips and advice to break down mental barriers etc.
“It was a truly great experience and I will continue to use the advice and lessons in later life.”
IT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH BETTER YOU FEEL AFTER A BIT OF EXERCISE! ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, IT CAN MAKE YOUR WHOLE DAY MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE
The next Back in the Game course runs from February 1-5. It is completely free. Anyone over the age of 18 can sign up for Back in the Game if they are currently unemployed and live in the Fife, Dundee or Aberdeen area.
To sign up or learn more about the course, phone or email Megan on 07557083925 or megan@ schoolofhardknocks.org.uk www.schoolofhardknocks.org.uk/