European Social Fund in England

Prospects MACA

"Prospects" is a skills training service for people with a mental health condition who find it difficult to progress towards employment.

"Prospects" is here to give people opportunities which mainstream institutions cannot provide Stacey Lewis

Traditional intervention is often invasive, intrusive and performed in the later stages of the development of a mental health condition resulting in more damaging and long term consequences. European Social funding has made it possible for Prospects to adopt an approach of early intervention to engage people in meaningful and beneficial activity, leading to opportunities for employment whilst avoiding an escalation of symptoms.

ESF has enabled us to extend our reach and stave off the long term and destructive elements of a more developed mental health condition. We have been able to increase staffing cover and the improve the level of technology and equipment programme members are able to use SL

The programme offers training in catering, horticulture, wood work and crafts, office administration, IT and printing. It also works in partnerships with local colleges offering accredited IT training and with the Shawtrust to provide pre-employment training and preparation. Prospects has worked with one hundred and forty seven beneficiaries, twenty four of which have moved into employment and twenty seven have gained or worked towards a qualification.

Allen was a successful and capable plumbing and electrical contractor, who was surprised at his sudden nervous breakdown.

"During those years I gave up work and stayed at home. I did not answer the phone or the front door or go outside. I took tablets, put on weight and gradually got out of sync with daylight hours and the world about me. I had lost all my confidence and self-esteem, I felt like the world was against me."

Through the efforts of his wife Allen joined Prospects working in the woodwork shop going through an accredited woodwork course. Allen continued at the project for some time until his health had recovered to the point where he felt able to apply for jobs, Allen applied for a role with MACA and is now the Woodwork Supervisor and General Maintenance Supervisor at Prospects responsible for the considerable amount of equipment at Prospects and implementing their health and safety policy.