European Social Fund in England

Work in partnership

Project Title: Work in Partnership (1.2d)

Lead Applicant: Tribal Regeneration

Region: London, including all 5 London LSC areas (North, East, South, West and Central)

Funding: LSC Pan-London ESF Objective 3

Target group: Unemployed learners

Nature of activity: IAG and work placements

Outcomes:

• 132 beneficiaries engaged
• 40 work placements
• 25 progressions to employment

Through Work in Partnership led by Tribal Regeneration, social tenants in a number of London Boroughs have access to ESF support. Tailored support includes personal mentoring, careers matching, IAG on local learning / employment opportunities and travel subsidies. Advice sessions with a career advisor can lead to work placements in the repairs / maintenance, construction and customer contact industries and ultimately lead, where appropriate, to further training / learning or employment. The soft outcomes of the project, particularly increased motivation and self-esteem, are also important for beneficiaries who have been excluded from the labour market.

Tribal Regeneration has been reaching beneficiaries at grass-root level, through local tenants associations but also through linking with events/initiatives on the ground. This includes, for instance, events which bring together local employers, careers advisors, training providers, housing associations, recruitment agencies.

Nicola, a single mother with 3 children, had been unemployed for over 17 years when she joined the Work in Partnership project. As a consequence she had very low confidence in herself but wanted to get back into the labour market: "I joined the project because I wanted the chance to learn something new and get back into work". Nicola had always loved painting and decorating and had started a course which she had been unable to complete due to pregnancy. Thanks to ESF LSC support, she started an eight week placement at MEARS in June 2005. Nicola exceeded all expectations, not only did her placement go well but she has since been offered permanent employment at the company.

George instead successfully completed an eight week placement in the Customer Care Department at Richmond Housing Partnership. "After being at home to bring up my children for a few years, this work experience has helped me to get back into working life and given me good exposure to current working practices".