‘WE KNOW DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE’
New programme to help people find work
A NEW project has been launched to help people find work in part of Stoke-on-trent.
One-to-one support will be provided to remove the barriers the people ‘furthest from the job market’ in the Meir area of the city can face.
These can include anxiety, depression, skills training and travel costs. There will also be a number of community activities including coffee mornings, exercise sessions and quizzes to bring people together.
In Yorkshire in the last two years, almost 1,000 people took part in a similar scheme and in the last nine months, 55 people were given improved skills, training or helped into a job.
The Engage programme has been launched in Meir by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) which has been helping former coalfields communities across the UK since 1999.
The CRT will be working with existing partners to remove wellbeing and skills barriers and support people into work.
This is the latest investment into
Stoke-on-trent by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust as part of its continued commitment to building prosperity and opportunity in the city.
It comes after Richard Stevens was appointed CRT regional development manager for the West Midlands just over a year ago with the aim of supporting local community organisations and helping them to secure additional funding as well as provide networking and training to help local charities thrive.
He said: “Our CRT Engage programme has already been in operation in West Yorkshire and we know the difference it can make.”
Jack Brereton, MP for Stokeon-trent South, said: “I have been working closely with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to support these programmes and I look forward to seeing the difference it can make here in Stoke-on-trent.”
Lord Mayor Faisal Hussain, who represents Meir South on the city council, added: “Meir is a fantastic community, but it has well known challenges when it comes to meeting the skills and wellbeing needs to enable local people to access their fair share of opportunities.”