Community Involvement Manager for Lewisham Homes, Sue Asquith says: "The partnerships are about being proactive in our community and reaching out to those who need support to get back into employment. These are fantastic opportunities for Lewisham residents to work with people dedicated to helping them identify skills and experience that could be valuable to potential employers.”
Lewisham Homes involvement extends to three employment service providers, Elevating Success, Get Lewisham Working and Working Links.
Lewisham Homes and Get Lewisham Working
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| Oliur Rahmen and Sharon Stewart from Get Lewisham Working with Councillor Susan Wise. |
Get Lewisham Working is a partnership between Lewisham Homes, The Hyde Group, L&Q and Family Mosaic which is funded by Lewisham council and aims to provide employability support to local residents.
Get Lewisham Working provides information and advice about training, employment and volunteering opportunities. This free service also offers job clubs, drop-in sessions and appointments in centres throughout Lewisham Borough.
Since its inception in March 2010, Get Lewisham Working has had 65 residents across four landlords start the programme. Thirty residents have attended non-accredited training, with 18 residents now in full or part-time employment. A total of eight Lewisham Homes residents have found employment through Get Lewisham Working in the past year.
Lewisham Homes and Elevating Success
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| High-5 Graduate Renee Robinson with Leadership Skills Trainer Trevor Brown |
Training and development company Elevating Success have delivered High-5 training on behalf of Lewisham Homes to offer development opportunities specifically to 16-25 year old residents. High-5 is a motivational programme of mentoring support, training, and personal planning designed with the aim of helping young people back into education, training or into employment. Seven young Lewisham Homes residents took part in the training.
Since completing the programme, 25 year old Lewisham Homes resident Renee Robinson has undertaken work experience at Elevating Success and Lewisham Homes within administration. She says “The programme has helped me to identify my skills and has given me the confidence to go out and look for work and know that I am doing it in the correct way. My work placement will give me the experience I need for a future career in Housing Administration.”
Lewisham Homes and Working Links
Lewisham Homes developed a close working relationship with employment specialists Working Links which give unemployed people advice and support on getting back to work.
Working links have run four “Discovery” events to train Lewisham Homes’ residents on CV writing and interview skills, and a weekly surgery held at the Holbeach Housing office, offering advice to residents on training and employment opportunities. To date, 14 residents have gained employment after receiving training from Working Links.
More Information
For more information about training courses and back to work programs, contact our Community Involvement Team on 0800 028 2 028 or email getinvolved@lewishamhomes.org.uk
