{"id":1692,"date":"2020-01-06T11:09:30","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T10:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bbostaffs.org\/?p=1692"},"modified":"2020-09-22T12:27:42","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T11:27:42","slug":"skills-boost-for-the-unemployed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bbostaffs.org\/skills-boost-for-the-unemployed\/","title":{"rendered":"Skills boost for the unemployed"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Building Better Opportunities Stafford & South Staffordshire<\/a> have supported 100 individuals with free training in the last year following the launch of its Training Hub.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jointly funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund the programme is completely free to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in Stafford or South Staffordshire and is currently out-of-work.\u00a0 The project supports participants in all aspects of their life including debt management, housing and benefits, CV writing and interview skills, job searches, mental health and wellbeing, volunteering, work placements, IT and computer access, plus lots more.<\/p>\r\n

Mark’s Story<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since the programmed launched in 2017, 662 individuals across the county have accessed the service.\u00a0 One person who has benefited from the programme is Mark Jones, aged 49 from Stafford.\u00a0 Mark struggled with depression and anxiety which he says: \u201conly worsened the longer I was unemployed.\u00a0 The longer you\u2019re unemployed, the more isolated you become and that voice in your head keeps telling you how worthless you are.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Mark\r\n
Mark Jones, Participant<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Battling with mental health issues day-in, day-out, Mark also has hearing difficulties and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).\u00a0 Following 20 years unemployment, Mark was referred to the Building Better Opportunities Stafford and South Staffordshire programme by his local Job Centre.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mark said: \u201cBuilding Better Opportunities can help you with so many things.\u00a0 For me it was my confidence I was struggling with the most, after being isolated and alone for so long. My advocate is great, she\u2019s not pushy but is encouraging and very understanding.\u00a0 The people genuinely appreciate you and they\u2019ve helped me to realise that I am of value.\u00a0 The team here really believe in you.\u00a0 It\u2019s the first time in a long time that anyone\u2019s believed in me and it\u2019s a really good feeling.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mark received the biggest confidence boost of all, when he secured full-time employment: \u201cWithout Building Better Opportunities I would still be unemployed, thinking I was alone and here was nowhere to go for help.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Michelle\r\n
Michelle Williams, Training Coordinator<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Michelle Williams, Training Coordinator for the Building Better Opportunities programme, said: \u201cWe aim to support those with multiple barriers to move closer to employment.\u00a0 Now, this is not a programme about forcing people into work, it\u2019s about starting the process of breaking down those barriers to employment.\u00a0 It could be that if childcare is a barrier to employment then we can support that individual with childcare costs, if transport is a barrier we can fund travel expenses, if confidence is a barrier we provide workshops and training to boost self-esteem and confidence.\u00a0 The opportunities really are endless.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2019, 100 individuals attended one or more of 39 free courses available.\u00a0 The course list<\/a> has already expanded for 2020 with courses available including; Basic Maths & English, Building Confidence and Self-Esteem, Business Administration, Customer Service, Gym Instructor Training, Teaching Assistant, Computing and Digital Skills, ESOL, Dog Grooming, Plumbing, Bricklaying, Garden Design, Construction Skills, Volunteering Skills, Security and Door Supervisor, Food Safety, First Aid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Michelle added: \u201cAll of the courses available are completely free for our participants and there is real value to the courses, for example the Security and Door Supervisor course also includes the cost of the SIA licence and the opportunity for a guaranteed interview with a local employer on completion of the course.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cAs we step in to 2020, our fantastic team of partners are ready and eager to support even more people across Stafford and South Staffordshire this year.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

To find out more about Building Better Opportunities Stafford & South Staffordshire or view the full course list visit <\/strong>
https:\/\/bbostaffs.org\/events-calendar\/<\/a> or call 01902 696 228.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Building Better Opportunities Stafford & South Staffordshire have supported 100 individuals with free training in the last year following the launch of its Training Hub.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSkills Boost For The Unemployed | Building Better Opportunities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Building Better Opportunities in Stafford & South Staffordshire has supported 100 individuals with free training in the last year. 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