European Social Fund in England

Minister visits ‘Progress to Success’ project

James Plaskitt, Work and Pensions Minister for ESF, visited the ‘Progress to Success’ project in Lincoln on 26 February. The project is run by Lincoln College and is working to tackle barriers to work faced by unemployed and economically inactive women.

The project is being financed by £295,000 of ESF money and has so far helped 245 women.

During his visit to the project James Plaskitt said:

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to visit the ‘Progress to Success’ project and see first hand the excellent work that Lincoln College is doing to attract vulnerable women from ‘hard to reach groups’ into learning.

ESF opportunities like this are helping disadvantaged people tackle their barriers to work, gain skills and make positive progress towards a job.”

Janet Cannon from the ‘Progress to Success’ project added:

“The Minister showed genuine interest and appreciation of the positive work carried out by Community Education and Lincoln College and the success that has been generated by the ESF funding.”

The ‘Progress to Success’ project is ESF co-financed by the Lincolnshire and Rutland Learning and Skills Council from the 2000-2006 England ESF Objective 3 Programme.

The new 2007-2013 England ESF programme will invest £164 million of ESF funding in the East Midlands. It will help 147,000 people in the East Midlands improve their skills and job prospects in 2007-2013.

Background Information on the ‘Progress to Success’ project

The Progress to Success project required a personal development plan to be developed as a first steps engagement programme to attract hard to reach female learners who would not otherwise come into a learning environment.

The personal development plan was named Open Door and has enrolled 245 women since 2006. It covers identifying personal skills and strengths, assertiveness and time management and action planning skills, focusing on raising self-esteem and confidence. This programme is delivered for 2 hours per week for 12 weeks duration. All students undergo initial diagnostic assessments in literacy and numeracy as part of the programme and are subsequently offered advice and guidance on suitable courses in order to attain accredited qualifications in these subjects, in accordance with government targets. Literacy and numeracy courses are also offered, amongst many others, in the community. All progression routes for students are also funded through this project.

The programme is accredited by the Open College Network and is worth three credits towards the Progression Award at level 1. Although this is not a requirement of the project it was felt important to learners’ sense of achievement. The programme also includes CV writing and careers guidance using professionals from Connexions to increase employability. Initial assessments in both literacy and numeracy are also carried out by students and individual guidance and learning plans given to every student to help them with further learning opportunities.

Community education runs all its courses in community venues such as schools, children’s centres and libraries, in order to break down as many barriers to learning as possible. St Giles Nursery school is one of its partner organisations, the staff of which are fully supportive and actively help to recruit the target group.