European Social Fund in England

Engaging ethnic minority females

The ESF programme was established to boost the number of Ethnic Minority females accessing the Entry 2 Employment programme (and Learning Gateway before it).

With regard to the project achievements, the Project Manager, Adele Fender at PCAE reports the following;

"The target was to grow from 1% to 15% of occupancy to be EM females at any one time. At its peak, the project achieved 37% of total. At the end of the reporting period of the project (July 2004) the figures were 35. It is fair to suppose that without the programme, the 29 learners would never have entered Work Based Learning, and many would still be without work or further education. 29 of the 30 starts came from direct work by the Co-ordinator, Sophie Noreen. Sophie has brought an amazing amount of energy to the programme and remained 100% positive and motivated throughout. Sophie is herself a Muslim female and used her extensive knowledge of the community and networks within it to achieve success".

Achievements of the Project's objectives are contained in this Word document.

Positive Outcomes

A positive outcome was defined as leaving the course to move onto Work Based Learning (e. g. an Apprenticeship); Further Education; Employment with training; or, in exceptional circumstances, employment without training.

Completers

A learner was deemed to be a completer when she has completed all of the activities outlined in her individual plan. Whilst the target for this area has been hit, it is the only one that hasn't been over-achieved.

A sample of Success Stories

Nazia joined the project with a background of bad schooling, with one GCSE. She has since achieved OCN levels 1 and 2 in Sewing and Textiles; 2 x ECDL modules and has secured a placement at the Allama Iqbal centre. She has transferred to the Business Administration Apprenticeship programme. She is doing well and has made her parents proud.

Sofia attended job search. Completed Sewing OCN levels 1 and 2. Secured a placement at the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership and has transferred onto the Admin Apprenticeship were she is doing well.

Shamila achieved sewing levels 1 and 2. Worked through confidence problems and cultural barriers to placement. Shamila got a placement within the community and has transferred to the Admin Apprenticeship