Good to be back!

After a short secondment away from the Future Jobs Fund project, I have returned to manage the project last week.

The project has moved on in leaps and bounds in the few months I was away. The support which the employee managers are delivering to the employees is brilliant, with loads of different courses and training available.

And the best news of all, is that fifty of out former FJF employees have gone on to get employment! This is brilliant news and proves that this project works.

I am really excited to see how all the individuals on FJF are contributing, and will continue to contribute to make Peterborough a thriving city.

Watch this space.

Caroline Rowan, Future Jobs Fund Manager, Peterborough

The Future Jobs Fund Go Pink for Breast Cancer

The men and women, who work together at the Future Jobs Fund, dressed in pink in support of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer awareness campaign, ‘Join the fight for women’s survival.’ As well as dressing up in pink, they sold pink cakes and raffle tickets. The team raised £65 towards the fight for women’s survival.

Cancer Research UK’s campaign ‘Join the fight for women’s survival’ is designed to act as a rallying call, encouraging everyone to help beat breast cancer – a disease which affects more than 45,500 women every year in the UK. As well as raising vital funds for research, Cancer Research UK’s campaign aims to make all women aware of their risk of breast cancer, which affects one-in-nine women in the UK at some stage in their lives.

Lee Wyer who was the event organiser, said: “We wanted to support Cancer Research UK because we all know someone who has been touched by cancer. Stepping forward to ‘Join the fight for women’s survival’ is a great way to help a really important cause and have fun at the same time.”

Cancer Research UK is the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK, spending nearly £45 million on groundbreaking work into the disease last year. This research covers all aspects of the disease, from understanding its molecular causes and investigating new ways to prevent and diagnose it, to developing better treatments and improving quality of life for people affected by it.

Future Jobs Fund creating partnerships.

The Future Jobs Fund Peterborough has been successfully working in partnership with many of its partners during the last year.
One such partnership was evident at the Veranda Centre on Wednesday 15th September 2010. Where Shama Kanwar, Community Development Worker at the NHS held the Bereavement community Project launch event. This included guest speakers from Cruse Bereavement care, Infant Mortality Dept and the Gladstone Children’s Centre.

According to a representative from the CPFT Community Development Team, they are "thrilled with the Future Jobs Fund project, which has given them two young people during phase 1 and another person in phase 2 of the scheme."

"This project has been hugely supported by the work that Nazia and Katy did and will be supported over the next few months by Tawana – our next FJF employee."

Hannah Peake, who will be Tawana’s Employee Manager, had this to say "The Future Jobs Fund project team values the working relationship with the all its host partners and hopes the partnerships such as the one with the CPFT Community Development Team will help many people gain sustainable employment in the future."

The Employee's View!!

As the project's progressed with success of it's mission statement, awareness has become more widescale within the community. Achieving more interest and appeal with new FJF applicants as a result.

Here are just some comments from new FJF employees:

"Having been unemployed since redundancy in March 2009, it was a great boost of hope to not only be given the chance for a career, but a desired career."

"Over the moon as the job offered was the one I wanted the most."

"Perfect method to fill in the experience gap and also achieve greater prospects with employment."

As you can see the scheme is making a difference and at the end of the day it puts you one step higher in the career ladder.

Mentoring Week is underway!

The first day of Mentoring Week was a great success and saw employees come into the shop to speak to our mentors about careers involving working with young people, business administration and business management. We also had a number of employees speak to Jane, an Adult Guidance Manager at Next Step. They were able to get personalised careers advice from her.

For the rest of the week the shop will have mentors who specialise in careers within the NHS, working with people with special needs, the building trade, business administration, business management and education. Jane will also be in the shop again on Friday. If you wish to speak to any of these mentors then come along to our shop on Long Causeway!

Please contact Insiya.salam@peterborough.gov.uk for more details.

53 per cent rise in employability of city’s young people

53 per cent of previously long-term unemployed young people have now gone directly into employment following the completion of a Future Jobs Fund role.

The scheme has proved to dramatically improve the employability levels of Peterborough’s 18 – 24 year olds through the provision of 6 months of paid work, enabling them to gather the essential skills and experience needed for the work place.

Richard Cooper was unemployed for a year before being employed through the future jobs fund as part of Peterborough City Council’s care and repair team. Richard has now gone on to work full time for Mears Ltd as a Customer Service Administrator.

Richard said, “With thanks to my future jobs fund placement, I have gained so many new skills. My computer and communication skills have improved so much and I have gained experience working both with customers and as part of a team within an office.”

All Future Jobs Fund positions, including Richard’s, are focused on providing a benefit to the community whilst also increasing the job prospects of the individual. All Future Jobs Fund employees also receive guidance and support in the form of training, workshops and advice services.

Gary Conder, Future Jobs Fund project manager said, “The Future Jobs Fund has provided Peterborough’s young unemployed with some fantastic paid work experience in a range of interesting job roles. The scheme has allowed these young people to learn more about the different types of careers and opportunities which are open to them and also provided them with the essential skills and experience needed when entering the world of work.”

“The Future Jobs Fund scheme has opened lots of doors for Peterborough’s young people. The scheme has also increased the employability prospects of our young workforce, providing the skills and abilities which many of the employers today are looking for. Local employers should be aware of the Future Jobs Fund and the array of talent which the scheme is helping to build in our city.”

The Future Jobs Fund is now in its second phase in the city, providing even more young people with opportunities.

Meet Falaq-Naz Mir - Reception/Office Assistant at the Eco Innovation Centre

Falaq-Naz Mir was unemployed for over 6 months before successfully gaining the opportunity to be a Reception/Office Assistant at the Eco Innovation Centre. She started on the 19 March 2010.

The Eco Innovation Centre (EIC) is a business incubation, meeting and networking centre for businesses and organisations operating in the environment sector.

The EIC is an innovative facility for Peterborough which aims to stimulate business growth and environmental enterprise and is one of the latest in a network of innovation centres in the East of England. The EIC is a specialist centre to support the fast-growing Environmental Industries sector. This includes organisations working in cleantech, renewable energy and energy management, pollution control, water and waste management, sustainable construction and materials, sustainable transport and logistics, environmental consultancy and other environmental services.

“Before I started this role I was a very lazy person. I hope by getting this opportunity it will help me to get out of a lazy attitude and into full time employment. I am hopeful that I can gain the essential skills to progress further within an office environment.”

“Since I have been here I have really enjoyed meeting and greeting the clients whilst working on reception. I have found that whilst on reception my confidence has grown allowing me to become more confident with my work and myself.”

“I really enjoy being apart of the EIC team as all the members of our team are great people who are always very supportive to each other.”

“If you want to go far in your chosen career path, but are unemployed then find out about the Future Jobs Fund as they meet you half way with their support, guidance and advice whilst also giving you six months of work experience.”

The Post Office 1,000 Challenge

Chris Moon, a disabled ultra-distance athlete, will be running an incredible 36 miles a day for 30 days across the UK visiting Post Office branches, Post Office sites and Barnardo's projects to raise money for the Barnardo's Believe in Children Appeal.

You can follow Chris’s journey on twitter @barnardoslink which will contain regular updates.

As a part of this amazing feat the Future Jobs Fund has been collecting money on behalf of Chris Moon’s challenge. The team have been asking people to either buy some of the great Postman Pat badges or make a donation for this amazing charity.

To make a donation you can do any of the following:

Phone: 0800 027 3439 (monetary donations only)

Website: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/donate/donate_chris_moon.htm

Post: Please send us your gift by a cheque made payable to Barnardo's, mailed to the following address:

Barnardo's
Tanners Lane
Barkingside
Ilford
Essex
IG6 1QG