I would like to introduce you to Young Lives.

was established in 2006 as an umbrella organisation for the voluntary and community sector working with children, young people and families across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough .In just four years, the charity has grown from six staff to almost 30 and operates out of three offices across the county.

As well helping youngsters directly, Young Lives acts as an umbrella organisation, offering guidance, advice and training to other charities, groups and clubs that work directly with children and young people.

The heart of our mission is to improve the lives of children and young people and families and we have dedicated strands of work that support the organisations that provide services to children and young people.

One of the charity’s most popular projects is the Jam Van, a van kitted out with the latest multi-media technology, including eight Mac computers.
The van is made available to groups and clubs, who can use it to hold mini-workshops, encouraging youngsters to be creative.
Young Lives works with different groups right across Cambridgeshire. It allows young people to get involved in media.
It’s all about bringing creativity to them and making a positive impact.

Young Lives is all about empowering young people and helping them take control of their lives. We give them a voice.
Young Lives is also involved with the Vinvolved project, (which I work on) a national scheme that encourages people aged 16 to 25 to help out in their communities through volunteering enabling them to give back and learn new skills which will later benefit them when jobseeking in this difficult climate. It encourages them to keep active and busy – and integrating into their communities no matter what their backgrounds, although we work with mainstream schools we have priority groups we wish to impact on like the NEETS who are not in employment, education & training!

We Need Your Support:-

Young Lives has been shortlisted to benefit from the Natwest Community Fund in The cambridgshire area. To help us continue to provide opportunities for young people locally we are asking everyone to take 2 minutes to vote online for Young Lives.

Please follow the link and instructions below:

https://communityfund.natwest.com/Vote

Peterborough Area:-
Step 1.
Enter postcode PE1 1SY, click next. Select branch, choose New England Peterborough. Click next.

Step 2
“Select your vote” Vote for Young Lives

Step 3
Complete your details ( this information is only used for the purpose of voting for the community Fund).

Tick box to accept terms.
Submit your nomination.


Thank you for supporting Young Lives

Kaylee Hallatt - Anti-Social Behaviour Assistant at Cross Keys Homes

Kaylee Hallatt was unemployed for over 11 months before successfully gaining the opportunity to be an Anti-Social Behaviour Assistant at Cross Keys Homes. She started on the 22nd February 2010.

“When I got offered a job on the FJF it was brilliant news for me. I was really happy to be able to sign off Job Seekers Allowance and not have to go to the job centre anymore. Before hearing of the Future Jobs Fund and being offered the job, I was on the verge of giving up as I was so fed up and depressed.”

“My role as Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Assistant entails me to answer incoming calls from tenants and take messages of anti social behaviour issues they need to discuss with the Neighbourhood manager. Sending letters and emails to tenants regarding various issues. Sorting the post out each day for the ASB team and then putting the letters through the franking machine and other general admin duties.”

“My line manager was brilliant during my time with the ASB team. He was a really nice person and was always helpful. I couldn’t have wished for a better team or company to work for.”

“I would say to anyone unemployed to snap up the opportunity of working through the FJF as it has really helped me achieve a full time job at Jaggards. It helped me gain confidence to apply for jobs that I wouldn’t have applied for before working on this scheme.”

“I would like to say thank you so much to the FJF team for your support in helping me get back into work.”

Celebrate Interfaith Week

Shani Burke - Social Policy Co-ordinator at Peterborough’s Citizens Advice Burea

“I have been out of work since July 2010, since returning from University. Getting a FJF job has provided me with an opportunity to further my experience whilst earning a wage, prior to this I was finding it extremely difficult to find work due to the current economic climate. Being unable to find work was a difficult experience and to be able to given this chance with Future Jobs Fund has uplifted me and built up my confidence at working in the ‘real world’.”

“My main job role involves client cases where there are unfair or discriminatory policies or cases where clients should have been treated differently. I complete evidence forms about the client’s problems and what should be changed about particular policies. I have also been sitting in on client interviews to gain more experience about how Citizens Advice works, and I look out for cases where there is a Social Policy. In addition I have been on some trips with advisers who do outreach work, such as in the prison.”

“I feel I have settled in very well as I’ve been introduced into social policy work gradually which has given me more time to adapt. I am most proud of being able to sit in on an interview and spot a particularly significant social policy of a case of racial discrimination, and completed an evidence form for this which I really enjoyed and found rewarding.

“My manager is great to work with; he is very approachable and easy to work with.
My colleagues are also very helpful and I feel that I can ask anybody anything without feeling silly. They emphasise that they have all been in the same position as me which makes me feel that I am not alone.”

“I would say that this is a brilliant chance, especially given the current climate. It’s a fixed term job so you can still take another job if the opportunity arises, and the Future Jobs Fund will enhance your employability as you are more likely to get a job offer if you are already in employment.”

“I have been given a fantastic opportunity and working at Peterborough Citizens advice bureau has been the best job that I could have asked for! Thank you Future Jobs Fund!”

Peterborough Mopeds

“Peterborough Mopeds” is a moped gifting project that assists those seeking work, or those who are in danger of losing their job due to transport issues.

Mopeds are purchased together with related safety equipment, each applicant will be trained to statutory Compulsory Basic Training standard and the moped loan, alongside safety equipment and insurance, will commence once the applicant has a job offer. The applicant’s contributions consist of £40 per week over the 15 week payment period

This project is designed to break the vicious circle of needing private transport to be able to get a job and not being able to afford such transport without a job and has been developed with the full support of end users.

Although this is an entirely new method of operation in Peterborough, it is based on KickStart’s 11 years’ experience of moped loans across the eastern region, and utilises well-established working relationships with agencies dealing with employment, education and training issues.

Peterborough Mopeds are working closely with Peterborough Job Centre Plus and have been provided with a desk to work from within the Job Centre to enable the project to interact directly with clients who may need this scheme to enable them to secure employment

This project funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). EEDA's investment has been made as part of a joint programme of work with Peterborough City Council to help people in Peterborough overcome barriers to employment."

Contact Information
01362 699923
www.kickstart.ik.com

Project Management
Project Owner – John Wratten

Holly Mahon - Project and Administration Assistant for PCC Children’s Services

Holly Mahon was unemployed for two months before gaining the opportunity to work for PCC Children’s Services as a Project and Administration Assistant for Phase 2 of the scheme. Holly started her role on 20th September.

“Before gaining this role I had only ever worked in childcare and education. When my last job, as a teaching assistant ended I decided I wanted a new challenge in a different working environment. However, as I had no experience in anything other than childcare, I was continually turned down for jobs. My job centre advisor offered me the opportunity to apply for the Future Jobs Fund and the rest is history! I hope to gain many new experiences that I would possible need for a successful ‘career change’.”

“I felt nervous before starting this role as it was completely different to what I have ever done before. However, I was also excited to finally have the change I felt I needed, a chance to learn something new and meet new people. “

“I am working in Children’s Services, Learning and Skills, helping the Assistant Director and her Personal Assistant with various tasks. This is everything from transferring paper files to electronic to research projects such as investigating the top 10 Local Authorities in the country and looking at any news and announcements from the Department for Education.”

“I settled in really quickly, it helped that I started with 4 other people on the Future Jobs Fund, and that we had been put together on an open plan desk space. I love my new role and I feel like I’ve learnt so much already, my whole attitude has changed and my confidence is soaring.”

“The Peterborough City Council is a great employer to work for, because they are Peterborough’s biggest employer the induction was excellent, everything was covered and it was all appropriate. I feel very lucky to be working so closely with the Assistant Director of Children’s Services, Learning and Skills who is an inspirational leader and a fantastic mentor.”

“The FJF team have all been really helpful, and we, the FJF employees in Children’s Services, have established a good relationship with them already. I would recommend this scheme to other unemployed people as it provides the opportunity to gain experience and qualifications where you may not have had opportunity to do elsewhere. Getting back into employment motivates and leads to other prospects, I feel I do much more now that my days have purpose and I’m really excited to be now starting an NVQ Level 2 in Office Administration too!”

Future Jobs Fund Recruitment to end

We are now into the final stages of recruitment for the Future Jobs Fund project.

The last of the vacancies has been uploaded to both the website and the Jobcentre and they include:

Jobs Closing 25th October
Opportunity Peterborough – Team Assistant
Citizens Advice Bureau – IT Support Worker
Citizens Advice Bureau – Admin Worker
Vivacity – Library Assistant
PCC – Sustainable Environment Officer
PCC – Transport Monitoring Officer

Jobs Closing 26th October
Cambridgeshire Slivers – Database Administrator
Cambridgeshire Slivers – IAPT Employment Co-Ordinator
Cambridgeshire Slivers – Client Sales Assistant

Jobs Closing 27th October
Axiom Housing – Learning Centre Assistant
PCC – Clerical assistant/Receptionist
PCC Business Support – Business Support Assistant
PCC Business Support – Business Support Officer
Orton Longueville School – Administration Assistant

Jobs Closing 28th October
PCC – Information Officer/Administration Assistant

Jobs Closing 1st November
PCC Neighbourhood Management – Safer, Cleaner, Greener Officer

If you want to take advantage of the support and experience that a Future Jobs Fund placement can give then please speak with your Jobcentre adviser or complete an application form and send back to the Jobcentre