Wheatsheaf’s two-day ‘Finding and Getting a Job’ module is proving to be one of Wheatsheaf’s most popular courses.

 Client Jean Kelly says, “What a brilliant course! One I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking to get back into work. Jobs are hard to find and I need all the help I can get, so I found the content of the course amazing.”

The course is designed to give clients the best possible job-search skills base to help them look for and get a job.

Subjects covered include:

• searching for vacancies in the local labour market
• identifying individual skills and understanding how to promote them to prospective employers
• producing effective CVs and learning how to make speculative enquiries and complete application forms
• training in telephone techniques
• training in interview techniques, including looking at how to prepare for the interview and getting those all important first impressions right
• and tips on understanding the workplace and keeping that job once the client’s started.

Course trainer Debbie Bishop says, “We have had great feedback from this course. The trainers have enjoyed delivering it and we’ve had some really good interactive sessions with clients sharing their experiences and ideas, and generally supporting each other.

“Clients often do not realise that the skills they use in everyday life or in hobbies can be transferred into the workplace - for example, organising dates for a band to play at gigs around the country, looking after children, arranging for maintenance of housing, etc.”

On completion of the module clients are eligible to access additional support if needed via other Wheatsheaf job-search courses, such as ‘Skills for Work’ and from our services available through the Employment Access Centres.

Since January 2010 Wheatsheaf has run 32 modules with 311 clients attending.

Client Jean Kelly adds, “It’s very easy to miss one word (as I did) on my CV or to get something not right. With lots after one job these things matter.

“I found the two-day course a great way to meet others in a similar position, and talk about what jobs are available (even exchanging job details). Just being in the training room reminded me of being back in the workplace, which has given me a new enthusiasm to get back into work!

“Donna [Course Trainer] at Wheatsheaf Trust was a great help!”

Debbie Bishop concludes, “We have had some really positive outcomes, from clients finding and getting that job or going on to training courses, and with others referred on to access additional support at Wheatsheaf.”

If you’d like more information about the ‘Finding and Getting a Job’ module - or about any of the services and facilities we provide at Wheatsheaf - call 023 8022 3345 or use the Contact form.

‘Finding and Getting a Job’ is run as part of the JobCentre Plus Support project and is sub-contracted with A4E.

Clients who took part in Wheatsheaf’s Launch Pad course were today given their certificates at a special award ceremony and lunch at Wheatsheaf House.

Staff from JobCentre Plus Lone Parents Team were also invited to mark the achievement of the lone parents who had all taken and passed the three practical level 2 training modules of First Aid, Health and Safety Manual Handling, and Food Safety in Catering.

Designed to support lone parents who want to work but who are low in confidence and need to either develop or update their skills, the course involves access to vocational training placements as well as practical advice sessions on how to find jobs and training opportunities.

Trainer Donna Clarke congratulated the eight clients who attended the event. ‘I want to say a big well done. This is a real achievement. You have proved you can do it and you have opened the door to loads of opportunities.’

Deputy Chief Executive Jackie Powers passed on the congratulations of everybody at Wheatsheaf, and reminded the clients that there is still plenty of support available here for them, with Donna able to give them up to 26 weeks of pre-employment support with a further 26 weeks of mentoring support once they had started work.

She added, ‘If you have any particular interests then let us know. We may well be able to find funding from other sources. Recently we had someone train as a medical secretary while someone else is now qualified as a dog groomer - and there are jobs out there. For example over half of clients on our Reach Out project in Southampton have already found work!’

Lizzy Clark, Manager of the JobCentre Plus (JCP) Lone Parents Team said, ‘It’s a really positive atmosphere here. There is so much of a team spirit and everyone seems really motivated.’

JCP’s Jeanette Andrews commented, ‘We have had some really good feedback from people who’ve attended the programme.’

After the certificates were given out, clients, JCP guests and Wheatsheaf staff shared a buffet lunch.

Client Melanie Roman summed up the experiences of the participants on the course and the lunch when she said, ‘It’s made me realise that I’m capable of doing these things with a little help and this award ceremony has been a real boost, proving I’ve really achieved something worthwhile.’

‘Launch Pad’ is run as part of the Jobcentre Support Contract REFRESH programme delivered in partnership with A4e.

For more information about the course see Wheatsheaf’s news story of 30 March, ‘Wheatsheaf’s Launch Pad Course A Great Success’ or phone to speak to Donna on 023 8022 3345.

NEWS: LEARNER PANEL SURVEY

Are you 14+ and in education - either compulsory full-time, adult education or work-based learning?

If so would you like to make your thoughts on learning count?

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) wants you to share your views in surveys and feedback about your life as a learner!

The first TWENTY clients to register from Wheatsheaf Trust will receive  from the Learner Panel a bonus of £4 as a thank-you for signing up.

You’ll get occasional feedback and £1 or £2 in shopping vouchers every time you take part in a survey.

Find out more at the Learner Panel!

Since January 2009 the project has engaged with 177 young people in Southampton, Hampshire and Portsmouth. All are NEET (not in education, employment or training), were often extremely difficult to engage, and also often at risk of involvement in antisocial behaviour, such as offending and substance misuse.

One-to- one and group work sessions help those on the programme to learn basic life skills. Participation in creative activities and outdoor pursuits help build social skills, increase self- esteem and develop confidence.

Each month we send out a newsletter containing education, training and employment opportunities to all young people engaged on the Youth Inclusion Programmes with Motiv8 and Youth Options, helping the participants to progress and move on.  A number of career-focused events including construction fairs and vocational one-day taster sessions have been organized to give the young people an insight into what the job market and educational facilities can offer. 

At Wheatsheaf Trust we believe that in order for young people to reach their full potential their family will often also need support.  Outreach workers have been working with families and significant others whose lives have an impact on the young person. Individual one-to-one support for these family members includes counselling, and we also organize fun and leisure activities for the family, taster sessions and workshops to gain new skills, and provide job information and advice

In providing this support the aim is to: significantly reduce youth disengagement; tackle the long-term causes of youth disengagement through supporting parents on to our Entry to Employment programme; reduce the numbers of workless households; and raise the aspirations of the young people, their families and the local community.

The project is innovative and pioneering in its approach and we want to ensure its success by making a real difference to the lives of young people and their families now and in the long term, and to create a positive culture through motivating and empowering people to make their own positive life choices

In the coming months we are organizing many fun and exciting activities across Southampton, Hampshire and Portsmouth for young people on YIPS and their families/significant others including ladies’ pamper evenings [the photo shows family and friends at the most recently organised evening],  family fun days, Music DJ taster sessions, and interest-led workshops such as cookery, construction and  mechanics.

Keep a watch on the website for more information!

Wheatsheaf Trust in partnership with Southampton City Council and Job Centre Plus will be delivering pre-employment training on 14 and 16 July 2009 for unemployed people in Southampton looking to apply for employment with The Range.

The Range will be opening at Antelope Park, Thornhill, Southampton, on 10 September 2009 and has approximately 75 NEW job opportunities.

Places on the training course have now been filled, but look out for details of further courses which will be posted on the website.

Until recently Lynn was a client at Wheatsheaf’s Havant Employment Access Centre, but on Monday she starts a new job with a Security company. 

After five years working as a manufacturing supervisor for a local company Lynn had been made redundant.

Because of the recession there were few job vacancies in production and so Lynn came to the Havant Employment Access Centre looking for career advice and a helping-hand with producing her CV.

She applied for ‘every job going’ but had no success and during this time suffered bereavement twice, along with a loss of confidence and self-esteem. 

Lynn was encouraged to look at her skills - what she had to offer a potential employer and where she wanted to go next. As a result she joined Wheatsheaf as a volunteer to gain office experience and took an IT course with Highbury College at the Centre before deciding that Security was the career for her. 

Wheatsheaf’s Employment and Training Adviser, Mary Cameron, said, ‘Lynn has worked extremely hard to gain qualifications and knowledge to enhance the skills she already had. At Havant College she gained the Security Industry Authority (SIA) qualification required for working in the Security industry, with a 99% pass! Lynn’s job-search journey is now at an end as she has been offered a position in her new-chosen career.’

Lynn was supported via the Reach Out programme, a Department of Work and Pensions/European Social Fund community outreach service Wheatsheaf provides through working with Vosper Thorneycroft (VT) Careers Enterprise. Reach Out Funding paid for Lynn’s SIA licence following her qualification success.

Mohammed Khan, Project Manager for Reach Out at VT Enterprise commented, “When the ESF funded Reach Out service was rolled out for Hampshire & Isle of Wight in June 2008, VT as the Prime Contractor decided from the outset to set aside some of the budget for a discretionary funding element which Key Workers can submit requests to on behalf of their participants. I am really pleased that the Reach Out service discretionary budget was able to fund Lynn in acquiring her SIA licence which has helped in the success of her being offered full-time employment.’

Lynn is looking forward to beginning her job on Monday. Of Wheatsheaf Trust in Havant she said, ‘The girls here have been brilliant. Wheatsheaf has changed my life around.’

Check out the story of how four E2E (Entry to Employment) trainees built a wall at the Motiv8 centre in Portsmouth.

The Confidence with Jobsearch course is a programme designed to support people who are over 50 and looking for employment. Check out the comments from past course participants and look at the type of topics covered to see if this is a course for you!

We look forward to working with Southampton City Council, following a successful tender to help with delivery of Employment Skills and related services on the Council’s behalf.

Wheatsheaf Trust  joins two frameworks of providers working in Southampton itself and also across Hampshire and Isle of Wight and will deliver IAG (information, advice and guidance), pre-employment training, job search and brokering, and non-accredited training.

Wheatsheaf Trust was among the exhibitors at the Party in the Park, held at Havant Park last Saturday - 6 June.

More than 1,000 people attended the free event aimed at providing job and training advice in a fun and relaxed environment.

The Mayor, Councillor Jackie Branson (pictured at the Wheatsheaf Trust stand), opened the event organised by Havant Borough Council and Havant Skills and Employability Partnership in response to the downtown in the economic market. Music Fusion - a music project for young people - provided the music with various local bands performing.

Along with Wheatsheaf Trust, exhibitors included Hampshire County Council, the Army, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Brendoncare, Job Centre Plus, Business Link and college and service providers.

Wheatsheaf’s Employment Training Advisor, Becky, said, “It was a fun and exciting event and a great way to meet representatives from companies and potential clients. We look forward to working with all those who signed up with us on the day.”

The event was sponsored by Hampshire County Council, Jobcentre Plus, Learning Skills Council and local businesses, Fassett, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Xraytex.