Here comes the FJF 'Green Team'

Peterborough’s new ‘Green Team’ came together for the first time today to begin their week of induction training, before they hit Peterborough streets to talk to residents about living a more environmentally friendly life. In their new roles, the team of ten will be discussing a number of environmental issues with residents including: recycling, public transport, energy efficiency in the home and what can be done to make everyday life greener.

At today’s induction the Green Team were told more about their new roles within the Environment Capital Communications project and the training that they are set to receive. The Green Team also discussed the survey questions which they will be posing to home owners and residents as they spread the green message through Peterborough’s streets. The Green Team were given lots of information on environmental issues, with Jenna Hiley from Peterborough City Council speaking about climate change.

Nick Goodman, Acting GPP Partnership Manager, spoke to the Green Team about Peterborough bid to become the UK’s Environment Capital. Nick said,

“It was great to see the team all together for the first time, I know this is
going to be a really exciting project not only for the team but for the
residents that they will be talking to. This all helps Peterborough’s aspiration
to Create the UK’s Environment Capital!”

Rowena Mbanu - PR and Communications Assistant- Opportunity Peterborough

I started work as a PR and Communications Assistant for Opportunity Peterborough on the 22nd February and prior to this, I had been out of full time employment for 6 months. The Future Jobs Fund opportunity was a fantastic opportunity for me, as it’s allowed me to pursue the career path I’ve been working towards.

I studied English & History at university and then trained as a journalist and I was hoping to get press office or journalism work, but the media industry is extremely competitive and this was made far worse by the recession. I did think I was going to have to resort to doing long stints of unpaid work experience again but luckily I gained this position through FJF.

I’ve been here for over 5 weeks and have been assisting with the marketing and press coverage of Opportunity Peterborough. Tim Martin, the Head of PR & Communications has given me lots of exciting projects to work on, such as covering the landscape lecture series and writing articles on companies who have received support from OP, which I think will give me a greater depth of experience to add to my CV.

The Opportunity Peterborough team are really friendly and have made me feel very welcome. I know that if I need any kind of help, there’s someone there to lend a hand.

Taking that first step into the media industry can be incredibly difficult and can often be down to whom you know, but FJF opened up a great opportunity for me that I was beginning to feel would be impossible to get. I’m happy that I’m able to put my degree and training to good use.

Russell Leigh - Project Support - Future Jobs Fund

Russell Leigh had been unemployed for 8 months before beginning work as Project Support for the Future Jobs Fund team. Whilst being unemployed Russell took part in Key Theatre stage productions such as Oliver and West Side Story. He was also studying performing arts at Peterborough Regional College. Russell started his new post on the 26th of January 2010.

Since I started on the scheme my role has evolved to meet the needs of the Future Jobs Fund team. When I first started I was appointed as an Admin Assistant which involved completing basic admin duties such as filing and letter writing. However as the project grew my role changed to Project Support, this included similar duties but gave me more responsibility within the team. I am now responsible for liaising with host companies and arranging start dates for the Future Jobs Fund employees.

Some of my duties in this role include liaising with the host companies which are currently in partnership with the Future Jobs Fund. It is my duty to confirm the number of job posts they require and collate suitable applications. I am then responsible for making the host employer aware of these applications and keeping in contact with them to achieve a successful candidate. Once this stage is reached, I speak with the host companies to arrange interview dates and possible start dates. The other side of my job involves administrative duties such as data input, filing, and helping successful candidates with form filling. Lately I’ve been given the responsibility of managing the Occupational Health checks and the Risk Assessments.

Thanks to the Future Jobs Fund I have been given the platform to gain work and experience to hgelp me back into sustainable employment, it has allowed me to truly enjoy every aspect my chosen career path. As a result I’ve developed my skills within the job, all thanks to the Future Jobs Fund scheme.

All the team I work with have been great since I’ve been here and have made it a pleasure to work with them. My line manager, Caroline Rowan is always so helpful. I enjoy the fact that she converses on a mature and socially relatable level.

Aside from the project being extremely beneficial for me getting back into work, it has also given me the chance to pursue the relevant courses and training I need to help me further my knowledge and experience. I would recommend that if you are eligible for this scheme to find out more as it can offer you so much help in getting back to work and giving you the experience and training you will need for long term employment.

Najiah Be - Customer Care Officer - Mears

Najiah Be was out of work for just under 2 years before being offered the post of Customer Care Officer at Mears through the Future Jobs Fund scheme. Najiah began her new role on the Monday 22nd February 2010.

Mears is a housing maintenance provider who works in partnership with Cross Keys Homes, a housing association in Peterborough. Mears’ work involves carrying out repairs and improvements both inside and outside tenants’ homes. The Customer Care team at Mears are in place to ensure that tenants’ needs are met throughout every area of Mears’ work. Najiah’s role at Mears is to work closely with the Customer Care Team, which involves showing prospective tenants around the current Cross Keys homes available to bid for on their housing scheme. She is also responsible for uploading letters on the Mears computer system, ringing tenants for information and has also helped with analysing the customer satisfaction forms.

Since Najiah started the post she has enjoyed ‘’going out the with Customer Care team to do a viewing with some perspective tenants and seeing how it works and what needs to be done to make sure that they get the best possible experience when viewing the property.’’ She has been, ‘’working with Maggie in helping the other Future Jobs Fund employees at Mears complete their timesheets’’.

‘’Since I’ve been here I have been made to feel very welcome and everyone has been so friendly which has helped me to settle in, this has helped my confidence grow and has made me feel like a valuable member of their team’’.

‘’The people I work with have been great, especially Maggie, who makes me laugh as she is a very friendly and kind person who makes work fun and enjoyable’’.

When asked about the Future Jobs Fund scheme she had this to say ‘’getting a job through the Future Jobs Fund has enabled me to gain valuable experience in a position I would like to pursue more in the future, so thanks to the Future Jobs Fund I have been given this opportunity to progress and learn’’.

Frederick Chant - Carpenters Assistant at Mears

Frederick Chant was unemployed for 14 months before he was given the opportunity to work as carpenters assistant at Mears as part of the Future Jobs Fund scheme. Frederick began his role on the Monday 22nd February 2010.

Mears is a housing maintenance provider working in partnership with Cross Keys Homes, a housing association in Peterborough. Mears’ work involves carrying out repairs and improvements both inside and outside of tenants’ homes. As a carpenter assistant Frederick roles will involve him working alongside a number of carpenters at Mears, helping them with the work that they undertake within tenants’ houses. As part of Frederick’s role he will work within the Mears training workshop with other carpenters to help him develop his skills and knowledge further. Some of the work Frederick will be doing includes; repairing doors and windows in tenants’ homes, and repairing or replacing fencing.

Since Frederick started at Mears in February he has been involved in, ‘’replacing a 36ft long fence in a tenant’s garden, which had been damaged.” He has also been replacing doors and windows in an elderly couple’s house’ which he really enjoyed as, “the couple were very pleased because before they were unable to open the door without a struggle”. He has also, ‘’loved being in the training academy and being taught how to lay bricks with the other Future Jobs Fund employees at Mears. He enjoyed this as it ‘was good meeting the other Future Jobs Fund employees who had been given a chance like I was’’.

When we asked Fred how he had found his time at Mears on the Future Jobs Fund scheme so far he said, “It’s great. I’m back to work in a job that I love and that suits me and which I enjoy everyday. I am very happy with the job I was given through the Future Jobs Fund. I am glad to be out and about at work as I get to meet so many nice and friendly tenants, whilst also being able to do a job that I really enjoy.’’

When speaking about his placement company Mears he said, ‘’Working at Mears is very enjoyable and I am always being made to feel very welcome. I feel very comfortable in my working environment, they make me feel like part of the team.’’

When I asked Frederick about the Future Jobs Fund he said, ‘’anyone looking to get back into work should find out about the Future Jobs Fund. I don’t think I would have got a job like this if it wasn’t for the Future Jobs Fund team and the fantastic opportunities they have available, so I would highly recommend them.’’

The Future Jobs Fund Team Does Sports Relief

Friday 19th March was sports relief and the Future Jobs Fund managed to raise a massive £224.35.

The total has been doubled thanks to Anthony Davis from Head stuff and the Future Jobs Fund, when he donated an extra £200, we are all very grateful for your kind and generous donation which takes the total donated a whopping £424.35 to Sports Relief.

The Future Jobs Fund team did hula hooping throughout the day at the Future Jobs Fund Shop on Friday, we also managed to get Richard Astle to take part, who managed a mighty 3 hulas, so well done Richard and thank you for taking part. Also thank you to all the people from the Future Jobs Fund Team which was Lee Wyer, Gary Conder, Russell Leigh, Lucy Wilsher, Natasha Haward, Jody Watts, Nadine Tatlow, Farhanah Majothi and Danielle Wagner for you great efforts.

Sports Relief also included a hula hoop celebrity guessing game which was won by Becky Thompson who guessed that Jenson Button did the most hulas and this made £30 for charity.

We also did a raffle on the Friday, with the prizes being drawn on Monday 22nd March. The raffle was a great success as we managed to sell over 600 tickets which made over £100. The raffle included many great prizes including a 20 litre mini fridge which Allison Sunley Won.

We would like to thank everyone for their help and donations, with a special thanks to Coca Cola and Avon.

To see pictures of the day, click on the link.

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=175630800932&view=all#!/photo_search.php?oid=175630800932&view=all

Asta Remezaite – Project Support for the Peterborough City Council Neighbourhoods Team

Asta Remezaite was unemployed for almost a year before being offered the position of Project Support within the Peterborough City Council Neighbourhoods team through the Future Jobs Fund. Asta began her new post on the 22nd February 2010.

The Neighbourhoods Team works closely with the local communities within the city to help identify the needs and issues of the residents. Asta and the team achieve this by liaising with the residents, arranging events and conducting regular environmental patrols and audits. They then find solutions to eradicate these problems by providing residents with the advice and facilities to tackle them themselves or if necessary, alongside the council. As her role develops Asta will also devise and implement these solutions, as well as working closely with the Neighbourhoods Management Team to help local events become more sustainable.

Since Asta started she has particularly enjoyed “attending various meetings and events such as the community planning event and meeting the local police.” All of which “has proven to be of great interest, I have it enjoyed very much ’’.

Asta added “that I should mention I am a single mum of two little girls, one of which has a disability.’’ She felt that this job was good for her because “it gives me the flexibility to attend the various appointments for my daughter, it is fantastic to be able to have such a great job and be able to care for my two children’’.

When asked about the Future Jobs Fund scheme, Asta had this to say “being given such a big opportunity has been great. I would have not been able to get a role like this before, due to my lack of experience. So to now be given the chance to do this job and gain the valuable experience needed means so much to me as it could help me gain permanent work in the future, which is all down to the Future Jobs Fund scheme’’.