21st December 2001
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED GET BACK TO WORK IN BARNSLEY

An innovative initiative designed to help the long-term unemployed get back to work in Barnsley has become so successful that organisers at Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) have secured funding for a new, extended programme which is likely to create further jobs in the future.

BDA’s extended Intermediate Labour Market Programme (ILM) - which is part of a South Yorkshire Consortium Programme, and partly funded by Objective One - was launched at Priory Campus in Lundwood, Barnsley, recently. The ILM programme is designed to create job opportunities for the long-term unemployed, and this newly extended programme from BDA is also aimed at building the capacity of the voluntary and community sectors.

Many local long-term unemployed people have already benefited from BDA’s ILM programme, including Jackie Lodge who had been off work for a year having developed Carpal Tunnel syndrome following an accident to her left wrist. Jackie said: “I applied for many jobs, but was not successful, always being turned down by occupational health departments who considered that I would not be able to withstand clerical work. There are very few jobs around that you can do one handed, and I was getting sick of the rejections. I was keen to get out of the benefit trap, and when I saw an advert for a new scheme, the ILM programme, I decided that I had nothing left to lose, at least this would give me a chance to prove that I could do something, gain a reference and learn new skills.”

“I was very lucky to be employed at the Community Information Centre, within Mind in Barnsley, where I received support and encouragement needed to motivate me after such a long absence from work. I learned ICT skills, clerical and secretarial skills, along with developing an interest in Mental Health Issues. During my employment on the ILM I gained ICT qualifications, such as word processing, database, spreadsheets and electronic communications, to the extent that having been used to so many rejections before I went on the scheme, when my contract was ending, I applied for three jobs - and was lucky enough to obtain all of them, being able to choose a job that I really wanted to do rather than accept anything.”

Jackie is now the Administrator of Barnsley Domestic Violence Group, who are very supportive of her continuing desire to improve her skills and update qualifications, doing what Jackie feel is a very worthwhile and satisfying job supporting the victims of Domestic Violence and their families in their endeavours to improve their lives. “The ILM was definitely a success for me, introducing me to new challenges and making me realise that I am capable of more than I thought I was. Without this, I would not have had the experience, nor obtained the qualifications necessary to do such a rewarding job, rather than being stuck in a rut; I would definitely advise anyone to give it a go!”, concludes Jackie.

There are many reasons why someone may have been out of work for quite a long time and would be interested in getting back to work. It may be that people have taken a break from work to bring up a family, or that they are long-term unemployed. Regardless of the reason, the ILM initiative enables the individual to get back into the experience and routine of work, and at the same time provides extra staff resources in voluntary and community groups who need them most.

Graham Wood highly recommends the ILM programme, as it gave him real work experience, and was also interesting and challenging. “The job enabled me to use the skills and experience that I had gained over the years, and I also gained new skills and qualifications”, said Graham.
Graham was also able to be part of a founding project that set up a computer suite aimed at providing computer training for people who have experienced mental health problems; the initiative was a direct result of Graham’s employment as an ILM worker. Janet Bibby, team leader for BDA’s Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT), said: “The ILM programme is a great way of offering re-skilling and re-training opportunities for members of the community that have not worked for some time, for whatever reason. It fills the all important gap between unemployment and the world of work, and we are delighted to be able to offer more ILM places through the new extended ILM initiative.”

Once an individual is out of the job market for even a short period of time, it becomes increasingly difficult to re-enter the world of work for a variety of reasons. As time goes by, potential job candidates may find they are out of the habit of going to work, or feel that they have lost touch with modern technology and working practices.

For further information on the ILM programme, contact Lynda Chapman at the BDA’s CERT team on 01226 784444.


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