20th May 2003
FULL EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

The Full Employment Area Pilot (FEAP) has been underway in Barnsley for over 7 months and is proving to be a tremendous success, helping people, who have been out of work for some time get back into employment.

A team has been targeting over 3,000 homes in Thurnscoe and Kendray, dropping off leaflets and following up by knocking on doors, talking to local people and highlighting the kind of service that the team can provide.



The team offers various levels of support to the local community, such as assistance with forms, compiling CV’s, organising interviews, providing the latest information on job vacancies, and giving additional support to overcome the potential barriers that individuals may be faced with, such as lack of childcare, poor transport facilities and a lack of confidence.

FEAP have over 60 registered clients and have so far been successful in helping 16 people into work in areas such as childcare, construction, business administration, painting and decorating, youth work, call centres, customer service, data input, and security.

There have been some wonderful success stories of people moving into jobs, such as
Robert Doherty who recently took advantage of the FEAP and has secured a position at Priory Campus in Barnsley. Robert said: “I have held various jobs throughout my working life. My last position was as a mortgage advisor, which I felt did not suit me and, for personal reasons, decided to leave. After being out of work for quite some time, I saw an article in the Kendray Newsletter about the Full Employment ‘Pilot’ so I contacted the co-ordinator Lynda Chapman. Luckily, at the time I approached her, there were a number of intermediate labour market positions vacant at Priory Campus. An interview was arranged, which I attended the following week and, I’m pleased to say, I was successful.”

Lynda comments: “I was delighted when Robert got in touch with me and was even further encouraged when I learned that his skills and experiences matched those that the position at Priory Campus required.”

The innovative pilot is financed by Objective 1 and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and is a prime example of partnership working between Barnsley Development Agency’s CERT team and Barnsley and Rotherham Action Team for Jobs. As well as visiting homes, the Full Employment Team is planning to run a drop-in session on Wednesday 4th June from 2.00 till 3.00 pm at Goose Acre School in Thurnscoe. The team hold sessions, by appointment only, every Monday and Tuesday in Thurnscoe, at either the Rainbow Centre or the Library; Wednesday and Thursday in Kendray, at the OMTI (Electronic Village Hall in Kendray), and Thursday in Kendray at the Community House between 1.30 and 3.30pm.

If you would like to arrange an appointment with the FEAP team or would like any further information or advice then please call freephone: 0800 0857 632.


Notes to editors
CERT’s task is to help Barnsley’s communities develop projects that provide new job opportunities. By empowering locally based groups CERT aims to build people’s confidence and knowledge and assist them to acquire skills and experience, allowing them to actively participate in the social and economic growth within the Barnsley area.


www.barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk

Press Contact:
Sarah Hopwood, Marketing & Communications Assistant,
Barnsley Development Agency
Telephone: 01226 784 456
Facsimile: 01226 286 606
Email: shopwood@barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk




Back to main Press Releases page

If you require any further information please email us.

Barnsley Development Agency
Beevor Court, Pontefract Road, Barnsley S71 1HG
Telephone: +44 (0)1226 784444

© 2003