The Equal Brighton & Hove (EBH) programme was delivered by activity providers to 11 key target groups. The principles of the Equal Programme created a consistency across the 32 projects within the programme. The Equal Management Partnership (EMP) provided the strategic direction of the programme.
On this website we have resources for project workers such as the service user forms and project monitoring page, a glossary of terms, and (forthcoming) information about the different target groups.
The full list of EBH Projects, with EBH Project Code and Lead organisation are listed below for reference
EBH002 BHT (Catering) - Catering and Life Skills at First Base [Homelessness]
EBH004 BHBCP - Employer Engagement Project (Engage)[Businesses]
EBH005 BHCC (Adult) - 50+ Project [50+]
Supported Employment Project - Led by Brighton & Hove City Council
EBH006.x Supported Employment Project Page
EBH006.1 Want to Work - Want to Work Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.2 Whitehawk - Whitehawk Inn Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.3 Bridge - The Bridge Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.4 LDS - Learning Disability Services Project [Learning Disability]
EBH006.5 CS - Children's Services [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.6 Varndean - Varndean College Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.7 City College - City College Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.8 HR - BHCC Human Resources Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH006.9 WorkingTogether - Working Together Project [Businesses/Voluntary Sector]
EBH006.10 Working Links - Working Links Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH007 BHCC (Pregnancy) - Stepping Stone Pregnancy Project [16-25 NEET]
EBH008 BHCC (YOT) - Youth Offending Project [Offenders + 16-25 NEET]
EBH010 BHCI (Aspire) - Aspergers Project [Mental Health/Disabilities]
EBH011.1 DAAT (CRI)- CRI Project [Drug & Alcohol Misusers]
EBH011.3 DAAT (NextBHT) - BHT/NEXT Drug and Alcohol Project [Homelessness + Drug & Alcohol Misusers]
EBH012 Care - Catering Project [Refugees, Disabilities, Mental Health, 16-25 NEET]
EBH013 CCBH - Constructing Futures [16-25 NEET]
EBH015 Friends (ESOL) - ESOL Project [Black Ethnic Minority]
EBH016 Friends (Housing) - Step by Step Project [Homelessness]
Mental Health Partnership
EBH017.x Mental Health Partnership Project Page
EBH017.1 Mental Health (Care) [Mental Health]
EBH017.2 Mental Health (Impact) [Mental Health + unemployed]
EBH017.3 Mental Health (Mind) [Mental Health + 16-25]
EBH017.4 Mental Health (Richmond) [Mental Health + employed]
EBH018 Impact (YPC) - Young Peoples' Centre Project [16-25 NEET]
EBH020 Connexions - Connexions Project [16-25 NEET]
EBH023 SY (Probation) - Learning Coaches Project [Offenders]
EBH024 SY (Motorvation) - Motorvation Project [Offenders + 16-25 NEET]
EBH025 Varndean - Varndean College Project [Disadvantaged Areas]
EBH026 WEA - Workers Educational Association Project [Black Minority Ethnic]
EBH030 PathBHCC - Path Traineeships Project [Black Minority Ethnic]
Engage
Brighton & Hove Business Community Partnership
Office 2a, 11 Jew Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UT
01273 774796
Contact: Claire Mitchell
The aim of the Employer Engagement Project is to facilitate labour market access for hard-to-reach local residents, by liasing with all organisations in Brighton & Hove that are actively engaging with employers, promoting joined-up-working in order to deliver a more prefessional and coordinated approach.
It:
Brighton & Hove City Council is both the lead partner of the programme as a whole, and leads on a number of Equal projects.
Brighton and Hove City Council Adult & Community Learning
Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JR
01273 293520
Website
Summary: The project will support people over 50s to enter new or alternative employment through specialist advice and training. It will offer an audit of needs, an assessment model, a training programme and work placements.
Outcomes: Engage 20 local employers with the national Age Positive campaign, in order to change attitudes. 200 older people will use the employment toolkit to assess training needs and create an employment action plan. Courses and advice will be delivered, and a new OCN (Open College Network) accredited course, ‘Working with Older People’, will be developed.
Case Study: Charles Wunderman
"I learned about the “Over 50 Work Project” by picking up a leaflet in Brighton Town Hall. I can’t recall the exact date, however I believe it was in January 2006. I was interviewed by Christina (had a lovely coffee with her) and she suggested I come along.
I found the project interesting because when you’re “50-something” and looking for work you can feel extremely isolated. As if you’re the only one in that situation, which is exactly how I’d felt. This was a good way to connect with other people having the same, rather difficult, experience.
I was fairly skeptical when the project started. I thought it would merely be a lot of theory, chit-chat, something of a social club where people would gather to bemoan their fate, the fact that they were in their 50s having to look for work in a work environment geared toward much younger people. To some extent, this was true. As I told Graham (who directed the course) some of the meetings seemed like group therapy sessions.
That’s not to pour cold water, and I think given our circumstance that would’ve been inevitable. For myself and for some of the others, the feeling of alienation, isolation and frustration of having been left behind on some kind of “scrap-heap” came out quite strongly, and often.
So did a lack of motivation, a feeling that the challenge of finding new work might be too great, and that in many ways the world had moved on tremendously, especially in terms of computers, new technology, etc. Those themes seemed to repeat over & over at the sessions.
Our group cut across a broad spectrum. We were from a wide range of social and work backgrounds, with very different experiences. That made it much more interesting as we learned that this situation is affecting people from all walks of life. Some of the sessions were relevant to some of us, some weren’t. However overall I think it was a good thing in that it hopefully gave us the motivation to try. I think motivation was the programme’s strongest point.
There were good practical aspects, relating to doing CV’s, filling in employment forms etc, things which may not figure too heavily for people in my field (design) but could be very valuable for people looking for other types of work that may not rely on “visuals”.
A lovely, highly-motivated woman at the group (Cathy) very kindly recommended me to possibly redesign the EBH Newsletter. I went for the interview. I met with Terry and Rachel, they thought I’d be good for the job and I went about designing the first issue. It was challenging to come up with a design that was functional, legible, easy-to-read, entertaining, and would be flexible enough to fit a variety of editorial and graphic requirements. I designed several versions, one of which was accepted. Seeing the first issue come off was exciting, and seeing it work successfully over a number of issues was very rewarding.
I also designed a wide range of forms for EBH and a Eurosource advert for Sussex University. I’ve really enjoyed working with the EBH team. They are very professional and it’s been a great experience, one which I certainly hope continues.
One of the EBH team recommended me to design a brochure for a local hotel, which came out really nicely. I am always looking for more design projects, hopefully ones as interesting and rewarding as the Access Newsletter has been, but having been in this field for so many years (I’ve had 34 years designing of all types of printed material) I realise everything can’t always be as fun and creative as one might like. Doing the Access Newsletter has been great, and I look forward to working on more projects like it."
Click here to email Charles Wunderman
Contact: David Adamson
Tel: 01273 328255
Aim: To offer opportunities to people with or with a history of substance misuse and people who are insecurely housed or with a history of rought sleeping or unsettled/chaotic lifestyles, to access training and employment experience and to develop meaningful training, volunteering and employment exit routes once they have completed the Project.
Brighton & Hove Drug & Alcohol Action Team
4th Floor, Ovest House, 58 West Street, Brighton, BN1 2RA
01273 292949
Contact: John Patience
Summary: This project aims to recruit, train, match and support a team of motivated and skilled volunteer peer mentors from across the community who are ex-service users or who are stable and in the later stages of their treatment programme, and provide a peer mentoring service to current and new service users accessing substance misuse services in the area.
Outcomes:
Path BHCC Traineeship Project
Contact: Laura or Mary 0207 001 2000
This project aims to address the under-representation of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups in management posts throughout the council.
To do this, Brighton & Hove City Council is working in partnership with PATH National Ltd., a successful skills development agency. It is hoped that individuals on completion of their traineeship will be able to apply and gain employment on merit.
For more information please click here. Please note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.
Brighton & Hove City Council Supported Employment Team
Knoll Business Centre, Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN3 7GS
01273 296090
Contact: Maureen Pasmore
Summary
This project brings together a range of service providers working in partnership to increase employability for people from hard-to-reach groups across the city of Brighton & Hove by:
Outcomes
The provision of courses in community settings in areas of deprivation. The provision of extended supported work placements with the city council and community and voluntary sector groups. The provision of trained mentors in areas of deprivation to engage and support residents in the improvement of their employability skills. The provision of individual support for beneficiaries from disadvantaged groups to access the services provided through the Equal programme and other employment and training services in the city. Individuals from disadvantaged groups having increased confidence, self esteem and employment skills.
EBH006.5.2 - Hollingbury
The Hollingdean Steps Project offers the people of Hollingdean a variety of services to help them build confidence, learn something new, or get a good job.
A series of free drop-in activities have been arranged. These take place from 11am-1pm at the Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road, Brighton, BN1 7BH.
Other services include HOP home visits and outreach, information on volunteering, and more.
To get more information, contact Jane Leech (Employment and Training Outreach Worker) by email or phone on 01273 296054.
City College
Brighton & Hove City Council (HR Project)
Learning Disability Services
Housing Strategy, Brighton & Hove City Council, 4th Floor, Bartholemew House, Bartholemew Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JR.
Tel. 01273 293820
Contact: Karen Kingsland
The Bridge
South Wing, Falmer School, Lucraft Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 4PN.
Tel. 01273 294930
Contact: Jill O'Brien
Varndean College
Want to Work
Brighton & Hove City Council,
Castleham Hove, Knoll Business Centre, Old Shoreham Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7GS
01273 295906
Contact: Wendy Akehurst
Whitehawk Inn
Whitehawk Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5NS
Tel. 01273 682222
Contact: Frances Duncan
Working Links leads on one project for Equal Brighton & Hove.
Working Together Project
Brighton & Hove City Council Teenage Pregnancy Team
Tarner Children’s Centre, Ivory Place, Brighton, BN2 9RA
01273 728521
Contact: Jo Martin
Summary: A Parents’ Training course will provide young parents with a positive learning experience and support their re-engagement in education, employment or training. Through the delivery of a 12-week program, it will re-engage parents who have lost contact with EET (Employment Education and Training), to an accredited NVQ level 2 equivalent course. This course has been designed to address locally identified need. Modules of the course will include issues related to parenting: discipline, healthy eating, hygiene and safety, first aid and enjoying play. Connexions Sussex Careers will provide the module on careers training/options, City College will provide input on future courses, and there will be modules on IT (Information Technology) skills, interview techniques and application form completion and interview skills. On completion of the course, all participants will be invited to a graduation ceremony and be provided with their certification. The aim is to improve and develop participant’s skills as parents, improve employability skills and act as a broker to further EET opportunities. All young parents will be monitored and supported by Connexions PA’s (Personal Adviser) based at Impact Initiatives to ensure they are supported in sustaining their chosen EET options or provided with additional support post course, to succeed in applying for their options.
Outcomes: Development of a locally-accredited training programme for young parents. The delivery of five courses across the three Children’s Trust areas, over two years. Young parents will receive accredited learning. Increase young parents’ personal development, e.g. increase in self-esteem, self-confidence, communication skills etc. To provide progression support to all young parents on the course – e.g. taster sessions, careers-related Information, Advice and Guidance.
Brighton & Hove City Council Youth Offending Team
22 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD
01273 296164
Contact: Phil Morgan
Summary: An action research project run by the YOT itself or between the YOT and a private sector partner to support young offenders into employment. The YOT has a Youth Justice Board target (shared by Connexions) to ensure 90% of clients are in education, training or employment, and in 2004 we achieved 71%. Most of the shortfall consisted of unemployed young offenders of 16yrs and above (45 individuals). Efforts to improve FE (Further Education) and training opportunities for this group will continue, but most will need to be supported into work. 1.1 workers will deliver a very flexible support programme to our Unemployed group, offering support exercises in the home, in project premises, in pro-employment agency premises, and in employers’ premises. We will use a combination of personal contact with employers, close initial support of the young people, and the offer of contributions to their wages for an introductory period to achieve work experience and substantive employment. A clear aim is to research and build working links between the YOT and the Probation and Prison services, and to lobby for mainstreaming of such links during the course of the project; persistent offenders on the YOT roll become Probation Service clients at 18 yrs old.
Outcomes: 90% of our clients in education, training or employment at the end of their programmes, in each project year. 30 unemployed young offenders matched with, and offered a work placement in each project year. 25 young offenders who would otherwise have been unemployed, in work at the end of their YOT programme in each project year. 40 local employers or work placements on the project database as working placements, either occupied or available, by end of first project year, 60 by end of second year. Report on work of project team available at end of second project year.
Aspire Project, Intergen House, 65-67 Western Road, Hove, BN3 2JQ
01273 725994
Website
Contact: Su Orosa
Summary: This project is designed to provide intensive vocational support to unemployed adults who are in receipt of disability/incapacity benefits. Through outreach it will focus on the needs of people with a social deficit including those with Asperger Syndrome. 30 beneficiaries will receive social mentoring and will be offered a spectrum of opportunities to provide pathways to work. There will be three types of opportunities: voluntary and community work; further and higher education; and, supported work placements. Opportunity providers will be supported in understanding the needs of this group of people whilst endeavouring to ensure that the beneficiaries add value for the employer.
Outcomes: Established mechanisms for matching people with a social skills deficit with appropriate work, education and/or community and volunteering placements. Learning about the impact training can have on improving social skills functioning, or how it can enable employers to accommodate productive workers who have a social skills deficit. Development of a network of mentors and active employers with better understanding of supporting disabled people. Dissemination of identified barriers to work for the beneficiary group, and ways to tackle these barriers. A number of individuals reaching their identified goals.
Brighton Housing Trust lead on two projects.
Brighton Housing Trust (Catering)
144 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4PH
01273 645459
Contact: Nikki Homewood
Summary: Two life skills workers will provide literacy and numeracy classes for homeless people, teach basic skills, organise groups, and encourage interest in and awareness of current affairs. A Catering Volunteer Programme will be the second stage of this project, enabling clients to undertake meaningful occupation within the day centre setting, working towards achieving formal qualifications and moving towards employment.
Outcomes: 80% of the beneficiaries to complete an agreed period of time in the programme. 80% of the beneficiaries to achieve a certificate/qualification. 50% of the beneficiaries to go on to further training. 20% of the beneficiaries to secure a work placement/employment within 12 months of joining the programme. 80% of beneficiaries to be able to receive a positive job reference from the programme.
Brighton Housing Trust (Advice)
144 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4PH
01273 645400
Contact: John Holmstrom
Outcomes: An increased number of clients being able to complete an Equal programme. Clients being motivated to start or continue an Equal programme. Clients entering work who were helped through advice and assistance on housing options. Equal programmes being delivered more effectively due to assistance to clients with housing. Good practice examples of housing/employment linkages.
Care Co-ops
Care Co-Ops lead on the Catering Project, and are delivery partners in the Mental Health Partnership.
East Brighton Community Mental Health Centre, Brighton, BN2 3EW
01273 267552
Website
Contact: Alan Lugton
Summary: The Catering Project aims to deliver a tailored programme of training and work experience to provide pathways to employment through supported work placements, training opportunities, and recognised qualifications. It will focus on key catering and food hygiene competency skills, which are essential for employment in the hospitality/catering industry. It will offer certificates in foundation food hygiene, which is a nationally recognised industry standard by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). The project will build upon established links with employers and create new links to offer a variety of environments to enable provision of work placement trials.
Outcomes: 40 people achieving CIEH Foundation Food Hygiene Certificate. 8 people achieving two core units of NVQ (National Vocational Qualifications) Level One in Catering. 20 stage one in-house work experience placements/trials with inductions into essential food hygiene and health & safety. 20 stage two in-house work experience placements/trials with inductions into food hygiene and food work. External job placement (6 weeks, 1 day) – 5 in year one, 10 in year two.
City College Brighton & Hove, Pelham Street, Brighton, BN1 4FA
01273 667788
Website
Contact: Diane Abbott
Summary: The project aims to set up a pre-apprenticeship training centre to engage hard-to-reach 16-25 year-old NEETs (Not in Employment Education or Training). The project will offer an intensive six-week programme of life skills, key skills and vocational taster courses in construction trades. This will assist in getting potential apprentices vocationally focused and employment-ready. A number of progression pathways will be available, including an intensive 12-week Foundation Construction Award, and entry into a full apprenticeship programme.
Outcomes: Reduction in the number of NEETs in Brighton & Hove. Increased retention and achievement on work-based learning apprenticeship programmes in Brighton & Hove. Piloting a model for future mainstream provision. Developing a new and effective referrals system for young people, in order to give them equal access to vocational qualifications at Level 2. Creating an innovative project in order to influence national policy.
Case Study: Gary
Gary was on the Constructing Futures course from 13 February 2006 until 18 June 2006. He heard about this course from a close friend and from Brighton Connexions.
He thought he wanted to work in the construction industry but when he started the course at constructing futures he was 100% sure – he enjoyed it that much.
He enjoyed working with his hands, and he learnt to work as an individual as well as part of a team. Working both physically and mentally, he worked hard to achieve what was expected. He particularly enjoyed plumbing and bricklaying.
He found his biggest challenge was working to finish within the time expected, completing all the work whilst staying neat and tidy. He overcame these challenges by concentrating and asking for help when unable to complete a task – there was always someone to help.
The highlights of the course were being able to work professionally and being treated like an adult from the word go.
Gary has now got an apprenticeship in plumbing lined up for him in 2007, but in the meantime he is working as a plumber for a local firm.
Case Study - Adam Presland
Adam was on the Constructing Futures course from 13 February until 2 May 2006. He heard about the project through Connexions and the Youth Offending Team.
Prior to starting the course, Adam describes himself as an ‘angry teenager’. During his time on the project he learnt a variety of skills. The biggest challenge he faced was learning new skills quickly. He overcame them by keeping his head down and concentrating.
The highlights of the course for him were all the practical work, and getting a job at the end of it. He is now looking to work as a plasterer, utilising the skills he has learned at Constructing Futures.
Case Study - Laura Marcantonio
Laura was referred to the Constructing Futures project through Working Links. She was a single unemployed mum and found the description of the project interesting. Laura did work on bricklaying, carpetnry, plumbing and painting and particularly enjoyed doing the plumbing - from the basics up.
She is now working for AJ Taylor electrical training to be an electrician.
Creating Futures Ltd. lead on two Equal projects.
Creating Futures Ltd (Learning Coaches)
Level 5, Hanover House, 118 Queen's Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XG
01273 810300
Contact: Chris Gentleman
Summary: The project aims to pilot a team of community-based learning coaches (LC) to provide assertive one-to-one engagement for persistent and prolific offenders, providing motivation support into existing learning and employment opportunities. To work using solution focused approach, which should be user-led while supporting resettlement and crime reduction strategies. Beneficiaries have been identified as those who come under prolific and persistent offenders programme (IPPOs) and as having substance misuse and accommodation issues. Most beneficiaries will not be currently under supervision of one agency and would be required to seek out and engage with local provision without any support. LC will provide consistency of support and close physical proximity for individuals to actively engage resources and services aimed at improving their employability. Assistance to be provided for a period of time, renewable after three months, which may be extended to meet the needs of the individual. As this client group is seen as the hardest to help this will require very intensive one-to-one working with caseworkers holding a caseload of 30 per year maximum.
Outcomes: Develop a team of learning coaches with specialised knowledge to support offenders into employment and learning. 158 beneficiaries to be matched to individual learning coaches and develop resettlement strategies or learning plans. 50% of beneficiaries to be supported into employment or learning outcomes: 52 beneficiaries supported into learning, 27 beneficiaries supported into employment. Develop a process for information sharing between custody, community and learning providers to ensure progression in learning. Evaluate the effectiveness of assertive engagement working and the effectiveness of this model in terms of employment and other performance objectives.
Creating Futures Ltd. (Motorvation)
Unit 8, Bell Towers Industrial Estate, Roedean Road, Brighton BN2 5RU
01273 821789
Website
Contact: Steve Philliben
Summary: Motorvation offers disengaged young people aged 16-25 opportunities to learn basic skills and motorvehicle maintenance in a practical, non-traditional environment. It will enable young people to be ready for employment, work experience, or further training. The project will fund a mechanical training centre equipped with staff, training rooms, offices, & garage facilities. Creating Futures works in partnership with organisations working with disengaged young people e.g. New Deal and Connexions.
Outcomes: Young people will gain accredited qualifications and employability skills. Young people will have an improved attitude to learning. Young people will move into employment or work-based learning. Young people will gain increased knowledge of risk-taking, legal driving and learn to reduce anti-social behaviour. Reduce repeat offending for those beneficiaries involved in the project.
Publicity: Motorvation has received some excellent publicity in the Argus. (Please note you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the publicity).
170 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EA
01273 323040
Contact: Karen Cass
Outcomes: The provision of a variety of work placements with RadioReverb. Delivery of four training courses. Outreach to target groups for the purpose of promoting different pathways to employment. Employer links and dialogue. An on-air commitment to raising awareness and challenging prejudices.
Case Study - Eleanor
Having just finished the 8-week Equal Course with Earshot I would just like to say how much it has been of benefit and add a big 'thank you' to the team. Looking back to the tentative approach that I made at the beginning of the course to the confidence and assurance I feel now, plus the excellent training I have been given -from researching materia1 on the internet, doing the job-spot and the program on employment to fine-tuning my CV -each component built up to a far greater and more positive approach to job-hunting which, as you know, has been a problem for me.
I know that I was part of the 'guinea-pig' group, however, I commend you for what you have achieved; recommend you to all who would benefit from the Radio 2 Work Equal course and hope that it may help those who have need of it for a long while to come. Thank you all for a great experience.
Sincerely
The Friends Centre lead on two EBH projects.
Friends Centre (ESOL)
23 Vine Street, Brighton, BN1 4AG
01273 689265
Contact: Adam Williams
Summary: The project will develop supported progression routes for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners to access nursing and other healthcare professional qualifications and employment, and support into employment for these and other ESOL learners. Through the training, ESOL learners would have the potential to enter employment with career progression potential, in a field with high levels of job opportunities. The partners will develop and pilot new Pre-Access and Access to healthcare courses. Progression to employment will be supported through advice and guidance, work placements and volunteer opportunities and a range of short employability courses.
Outcomes: 40 ESOL learners will complete the Pre-Access courses and progress to more advanced healthcare training and/or work in health-related jobs. 12 ESOL learners will complete the Access course as a route to higher education. 15 six week work placements will be created and filled with ESOL learners. 60 learners will receive employment support, including individual advice and guidance and employability short courses. 30 learners who receive employability support will proceed to employment, self-employment or further vocational training.
Friends Centre (Homeless)
23 Vine Street, Brighton, BN1 4AG
01273 689265
Contact: Marc Wood
Summary: The project will test new approaches to providing basic skills (literacy/numeracy) training for homeless people. A qualified basic skills tutor will work with homeless people and the agencies that support them to identify appropriate models for the delivery of basic skills training. Training will be provided in homeless settings (hostels, day centres). There will be a focus on evaluating successful approaches and on enabling participants to access further skills training in non-homeless settings, in order to move away from dependency on homeless services.
Outcomes: 84 homeless and insecurely housed people will engage with basic skills learning, and models of best practice for teaching them will be identified. At least 50 % of these participants will progress to further opportunities. 12 housing support workers will complete an accredited course on basic skills. Links will be made between housing and support providers and adult learning providers. Literacy, numeracy, and ‘soft’ outcomes will be assessed.
Impact Initiatives are involved in the delivery of a number of Equal Brighton & Hove projects.
Lead Partner
Impact Initiatives (Mental Health)
Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD
01273 828450
Contact: Sally McCarthy
This project delivers a coordinated approach by 4 agencies and offers training and work placement opportunities for people with mental health needs. It aims to develop a new model of partnership working that can be mainstreamed vertically and horizontally. Available for download is a leaflet produced for the partnership.
The agencies involved are (please click to access the text below):
Care Co-ops' aim is to promote growth and progression within a positive service that is accessible and flexible for people who have experienced mental health support needs. The opportunities offered by Care Co-ops on the Equal Programme focus on enabling beneficiaries to explore their employment and training goals and to develop their confidence in achieving them.
Opportunities offered include
To visit the Care Co-Ops website click here.
Impact’s Workability projects help people with mental health needs and disabilities to access education, training and work. They offer one-to-one and group support in a stimulating and supportive environment. People are supported in matching their skills and abilities to suitable jobs and courses and planning their career development at a pace that is comfortable for them.
To visit the Workability webpage click here.
Mind run the Experience in Mind project. This provides staff from the mental health sector and young people’s services with training from young mental health service users. Training focuses on the experiences and opinions of young people (aged 15-25) and the aim of the training is to provide staff with more confidence and skills in their work with young people with mental health needs.
To visit the Mind website click here.
Richmond Fellowship - Making Recovery Reality
Richmond Fellowship Employment and Training (RFET) is a national charity specialising in helping people with mental health problems to maximise their employment opportunities. RFET - Brighton provides ‘in work’ support for both the employee and employer.
Support for the employee
Support for the employer
To visit the Richmond Fellowship website click here.
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
65-67 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AE
01273 771635
Contact: Helen Lang
Outcomes: One-to-one guidance sessions will be offered to young deaf people to identify appropriate needs, support, career development opportunities, signpost training options and address employment concerns. Work experience with employers will be arranged for deaf young people leaving school. Job preparation workshops will be established. Two residential courses will be run. An information pack will be designed and distributed to schools in the South East region.
Case Study - Kirsty
Dates of Client’s work with project: From 05/09/2005 to 24/02/2006
Kirsty came to the RNID service seeking advice and guidance in looking for, ideally, full time employment in either office based employment or shop work. This client had just finished at college and had a part time job but was seeking something more permanent.
Advice and guidance was given to Kirsty on CV work, application forms and where to seek employment opportunities.
It was suggested that Kirsty might benefit form a work preparation course that was organised and attended for 6 weeks.
The client, with assistance, completed various application forms and sent these to prospective employers.
A couple of job interviews were arranged as a result of the applications, one at clothing store, the other at a hospital. Communication support paid by ‘Access to Work’ was organised for the client, as she is Deaf.
Advice was given also on interview techniques before the interviews to enable the client to get an idea of what to expect.
The client was successful in gaining employment at the store and I arranged a visit to the employer and gave them information about what support was available for the client. This role was originally for temporary Christmas work but the employer was happy to offer Kirsty a permanent role, as she was impressed with Kirsty’s work.
The client continues to work for this company and is very happy, as this has added to her experience and confidence.
53 Queen’s Road, Brighton, BN1 3XB
01273 783648
Contact: Natasha Baker
Summary: A team of specialist Connexions Personal Advisers (PAs) will work with key groups of disaffected young people aged 16-25 (and across all Equal target groups) identified as needing intensive support to access employment/training. Equal funding will provide 4/5/6 PAs whilst Connexions match-funding incorporates existing PAs working with targeted groups of young people. The former will target young people with mental health needs; from BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities; those who are NEET (Not in Employment Education or Training); LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender ); and those with housing issues. The latter currently target young offenders; those leaving care; teenage parents, NEET young people, and those with substance misuse issues.
Outcomes: Recruitment of up to six specialist Connexions Personal Advisers. Targeted groups of disaffected young people aged 16-25 to receive intensive personal support to remove the barriers to entering training or employment. PAs to negotiate personal development and employability training opportunities with training providers and local college / employers for their clients. PAs to support and guide clients into training and employment. Young people to receive ongoing support following their progression into specific training or employment destinations.
Brighton Deaf Centre, Carlton Hill, Brighton BN2 0GW
Website
Tel / Text: 01273 671899
Fax: 01273 625283
Contact Neil Robinson
Mobile: 07733 312581
Minicom: 01273 671899
Tel: 18002 01273 671899 via Typetalk (Just dial the full number and the operator will help set up the connection.)
Fax: 01273 625283
Email: neil@sussexdeaf.com
The objective of the project is to enable service users to break down barriers to employment and return to work.
An Outreach Community Support Worker (OCSW) provides one-to-one support to Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing people by:
The OCSW's role includes:
Outcomes include:
Surrenden Road, Brighton, BN1 6WQ
01273 508011
Contact: Angela Pamely
Summary: This project will provide outreach work in an area of deprivation (Woodingdean) not currently covered by eb4u (East Brighton For You )or New Deal for Communities funding. The college will provide accredited training in administration and ICT (Information and Communication Technology), plus work placements. Partners: Woodingdean Youth Centre, Woodingdean Cyber Café
Outcomes: 3 classes, 15 learners achieving up entry 1 computing. 50 learners recruited into adult and community courses. Develop a local learning centre. Develop further ACL (Adult and Community Learning) courses tailored to the needs of the local communities. An evaluation has been produced, available to download (below).
Case Study - Nicola
Nicola started a course in May 2006 which ran to July 2006. She found out about the course from a leaflet that her son had brought home from school. She also heard about the follow on courses from Debbie, the Varndean project worker.
She was feeling very down and felt like her life was going nowhere. She had overcome her substance misuse problems three years previously and having been a full time parent for 12 years, now needed to do something for herself.
Nicola did the 10 week Office Skills Course at Woodingdean Youth Centre and the Computer for Beginners Course at Java Internet Café. At the same time she was volunteering at Rudyard Kipling Primary School and the MIND shop. Voluntary work has helped her to get references. She now has moved onto the 38 week Office Skills Course.
She has had a lot of challenges to overcome with self-esteem and confidence. Being an ex-user made her quite reserved and it was difficult at first to meet other people and to socialise. She also had to learn to listen and deal with work-type situations, which was like going back to school again.
Whilst doing the course she has had health problems such as DVT (deep vein thrombosis), Psoriatic Arthritic and serious dental work.
Nicola has overcome her challenges by trusting the people around her on the course. She has listened to other peoples’ experiences and has learnt that she is not the only one who has had difficulties.
The highlights of her involvement in these projects were getting onto the 38 week Office Skills Course and the fact that she finished something, progressing onto new challenges.
Nicola is now planning work experience and her ECDL computer qualification (European Computer Driving License).
Dolphin House, Manchester Street, Brighton, BN2 1TF
01273 863610
Contact: Emma Leavey
Summary: The WEA plan to work in partnership with several local organisations to offer a comprehensive package of social care and support, basic skills and accredited courses to beneficiaries of 19+, some over 50, from BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) groups and refugees/asylum seekers, who are possibly homeless. The WEA would offer a range of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses and IT courses, which would run alongside their language provision. We would organise special IT (Information Technology) courses offering the beneficiary the opportunity to work toward a nationally recognised qualification eg. CLAIT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology). We could also offer intensive courses in literacy and numeracy, and personal development which would focus upon engaging with, and gaining an understanding of, British culture. The overall package would be aimed at enhancing the beneficiary’s opportunities within the current work place.
Outcomes: To ensure the beneficiary develops their knowledge of English and works toward achievable targets in reading, writing and communication. To develop and enhance basic skills, for example, literacy and numeracy, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology). To build self-confidence and motivation through a better awareness of progression routes within mainstream education or full-time or part-time employment – role of Project Worker. To empower the beneficiary with an awareness and knowledge of living in an alternative community through courses addressing issues of integration into British society and Citizenship. To progress into further training regarding building a community support unit and to have direct input into learning needs of own group.
Impact Initiatives (Young People)
Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD
01273 828454
Website
Contact: Moira Blake
Summary: The aims of this project are: to increase the employability and skills of 50 NEET people aged 16-25 who have complex needs; to develop a new model of support for these young people; to reduce the barriers facing young people in terms of employment, training, and further education; to facilitate user-led input into mainstream service delivery; and, to ensure that equality of opportunity in the workplace is maximised by the use of work training.
Outcomes: To develop a new model of vocational training and support for NEET young people. To establish a relationship between young people and training/education professionals, lowering barriers to progression. To make 8 working links with training providers and FE/HE establishments. To develop a new OCN training programme for employment- and training-focused mentors. To provide a vocational needs profile to 50 young people, and intensive support to 35.
Guidance on using the Equal Brighton & Hove, and European Social Fund logos as well as the logos themselves can be downloaded below.
The full Communications Policy is also available to download.
Communications Workshop
A big "thank-you" to all of the attendees of the Communication Workshop. This workshop involved group discussions about communications strategies, and presentations by Harriet Gill (Programme Officer, EBH), Paul Stoggles (LSC), Richard Green (Talent Consulting), and Wendy Taylor (Brighton Housing Trust).
For those who were not able to attend, we now have slides available to download in Adobe Acrobat format using these links:
EBH Compliments, Feedback and Complaints Procedure
To leave comment or to find out about making a complaint about an EBH funded service or the EBH Core Team, please download the guidance document listed below which gives details of how to do this. This file is in Adobe Acrobat format.
Equal employs a thematic approach for developing and disseminating new ways to deliver employment policies that combat discrimination and inequality experienced by those attempting to access the labour market.
It employs an approach to tackling these issues based on seven leading principles: Mainstreaming, Partnership, Equal Opportunities, Innovation, Empowerment, Transnational and Thematic.
Equal Brighton & Hove is a Theme A programme: Helping people access the labour market.
The other themes are Promoting opportunities for ethnic minorities (Theme B), Opening business creation to all (Theme C), Strengthening the social economy (Theme D), Promoting lifelong learning (Theme E), Raising the adaptability of businesses and people (Theme F), Reducing gender inequalities (Theme H), Supporting asylum seekers (Theme I). For links to other Development Partnerships working across these themes visit the Ecotec website. For more information about the Equal Programme as a whole, visit the main EU website.
Empowerment Overview
Equal defines Empowerment as the development of capacity and opportunity for individuals and groups to play a full role in society in general, not only in economic terms, but also in social, psychological and political terms, with those involved in the implementation of activities also taking part in decision making.
Equal recognises 4 main principles of Empowerment:
Empowerment is vital to create the real, lasting and sustainable change needed to integrate socially excluded and marginalised groups into communities, and to build the capacity of those communities and the people within them. To make it happen, individuals and communities must be able to take control of their own future by accessing resources and developing the skills to generate opportunities for themselves.
The real challenge of Empowerment is that it signals a move in the balance of power, away from those in positions of control (for example, partnership board members and project managers) and towards the intended beneficiaries. Communication must be honest, open and widespread; relationships must work on the basis of trust and freedom, with those involved able to take risks and try things out, even where project staff may suspect that the activity will not be successful. The following questions may be useful:
Our definition of Empowerment places it as the centre of developing measures to tackle social exclusion and marginalisation from the labour market. In terms of the EQUAL programme, Empowerment at its best will mean that the intended beneficiaries of the activity – people facing discrimination in the labour market – will also take part in developing the project and making decisions at all levels.
Within Equal, Empowerment is closely linked with innovation, as the programme aims to join strategies for employment with strategies for social inclusion. This is a challenging task and one that requires new thinking and approaches and we look forward to working with our activity partners across the city to identify, share and improve good practice.
Further Resources
Equal Brighton & Hove delivered a seminar on Empowerment for all APs on July 7th 2006. Its aim was to share the principles of empowerment and support projects to recognise areas of empowerment within their own projects.
The following files from the seminar are available to download:
An exercise was conducted at the end of the seminar that involved identifying and breaking down into stages the empowerment related activities in Project Full Bids. A blank Empowerment Plan is available, along with an example.
For any further details on completing an empowerment plan for your project please contact Linden Farrer on 01273 294544.
Equal Brighton & Hove (EBH) promotes recognising the value of diversity throughout the partnership.
EBH has identified groups that tend to experience lower levels of opportunity in employment. The groups form the focus for the partners' activities.
The Core Team encourages and works alongside partners to ensure equality issues are actively considered through all aspects of the projects. This is in line with the legal duties that apply to most public authorities for disability, ethnic origin and gender.
EBH is innovative in encouraging our partners to work as if the duties apply to all participants. We will do this by: identifying relevant equality issues; assessing policies and practices; offering support and advice, and; learning from what worked well and what did not.
Barriers to equality exist at different levels; the individual - their personal situation and their employability; employers - how committed and effective they are at attracting and retaining a diverse workforce.
EBH will encourage projects to challenge their assumptions about how they work. We will assess how effective they have been in supporting beneficiaries by monitoring and evaluation of programme developers.
The City of Brighton and Hove hosts a broad and complex range of structures that aim to encourage social and economic participation in public life. These link with regional and national organisations and structures working with similar aims. EBH will look at the effectiveness of these structures in supporting and delivering sustainable improvements in equality of opportunity for all residents.
Tackling new ways of dealing with discrimination and inequality in the labour market.
Equal Brighton & Hove aims to break down barriers to employment through novel actions and activities. The project will support a better understanding of the local labour market and look for new opportunities to strengthen the economy. These novel approaches can be summarised as -
ECOTEC have produced a Good Practice Guide on Measuring and Sustaining Innovation
The Equal programme has been designed so that its actions influence policy developments and make sure that policy makers learn lessons from its activities. This is the ultimate goal of Equal.
Mainstreaming is not the same as dissemination, although this is an important part of the mainstreaming process.
Mainstreaming is the process through which DPs can create an impact through influencing understanding, policy goals, practice, and priorities. It means using DP findings and adopting new practice whereas dissemination relates to publicising lessons through conferences, events, reports, and thematic papers.
Dissemination on the other hand involves DPs sharing information, and raising awareness of results and outcomes.
Mainstreaming takes place at two different levels: vertical and horizontal.
ECOTEC have produced a Good Practice Guide on Mainstreaming
This level is aimed at the Development Partnership, Partners, and other local or regional agencies with similar interests, commonly focusing on practical lessons.
It starts with peer networking, and can involve
This level aims at influencing national policy, using intermediaries to transfer key lessons.
It is the more challenging form of mainstreaming, as it needs direct contact with policy makers. It can involve:
Equal is delivered by Development Partnerships and not by individual organisations.
This reflects the need for a multi-agency approach to tackle the barriers to employment faced by many individuals, and also reflects the range of specialist organisational skills required to deliver an effective Equal DP.
The importance placed on partnership is illustrated by the significant time and resources it devotes to developing partnerships during Action 1, and in supporting and maintaining partnerships in Actions 2 and 3.
ECOTEC have produced a Good Practice Guide on Partnership
Please find minutes from Equal Management Partnership meetings that took place in 2006 available to download immediately below.
Please find minutes from Equal Management Partnership meetings that took place in 2007 available to download immediately below.
This page has service user forms to download as PDF files, or as Word/Excel files that can be amended as necessary for project use. Please refer to the guidance instructions before using them as this may answer any questions that you have about using the forms.
Also available to download is information about the monitoring requirements of EBH and templates for use by project workers.
Finally, closure documents are available to download below.
Overview
The Equal Community Initiative under the ESF is meant to provide services to socially excluded groups with the purpose of moving those individuals into training and employment. This means that any service user of ESF Equal funded services must be 1) in a socially-excluded group and 2) looking to move into training and/or employment. Each Equal programme chooses and defines the socially excluded groups it will work with and the services it will offer.
The Equal programme is not intended to provide services to every resident of an area nor is it intended to provide services to every socially excluded resident of an area. An Equal Development Partnership chooses which groups they will concentrate on.
Target Groups
The Equal Brighton & Hove programme was developed to provide services to specific target groups. These groups were chosen by the Management Partnership in Action 1 and were based on research done on the Brighton and Hove area. These are the people who count as beneficiaries and are eligible to receive Equal services.
Equal Brighton & Hove chose as its target groups 11 specific categories. These were identified in the DPA as:
Accessing Services - Direct & Indirect Service Users
Each project has as its focus one or more specific target groups; this should have been clarified through the project bidding process. Each project should be designed to address the needs of the specific target group(s) and directed at recruiting the specific target groups to participate in the project. These named groups of beneficiaries are referred to as direct beneficiaries and are eligible to access the services.
A beneficiary who is not in the project’s specific target group(s) but is in one of Equal Brighton & Hove's other target groups are considered indirect beneficiary and are eligible to participate in that service. It is worth bearing in mind that indirect service users are service users that a project has not been designed to specifically cater for.
If a service is being funded by Equal at 100% then only people who qualify as either direct or indirect beneficiaries are eligible. If a service is only part-funded by Equal, then anyone can attend that course, as long as there are also Equal beneficiaries being served. Non-EBH target groups cannot be counted as service users towards a project's EBH targets. These are not arbitrary rules which can be changed. These are requirements of Equal and the ESF.
With respect to the Annex 1 information, the only service users that should be estimated in that document are the direct beneficiaries. With respect to reporting, all service users, both direct and indirect, should be reported.
EBH Eligibility
To receive services funded by EBH and therefore also for audit purposes, the eligibility of a beneficiary must be evidenced. The criteria for eligibility is determined by the European Union and is codified in regulations and contractually. Equal Brighton & Hove (EBH) has no authority to change or waive these requirements.
There are three requirements:
A project must be able to evidence that a person who has received Equal-funded services has met all three of the eligibility requirements. If a project is unable to do so, then that person is ineligible. The forms provided for projects to use - if filled out correctly - will provide all of the evidence necessary to prove eligibility. Guidance on using the forms can be found on the Forms and Monitoring page.
Evidence for target group membership varies according to what target group membership is claimed. Specific target group information is included on relevant target group pages listed below.
Service Users Accessing More than One (1) ESF Funded Programme/Project
Our guidance from Ecotec states that there is no problem with having a service user taking up more than one ESF funded programme as long as:
Black Minority Ethnic - Overview
The area of BME groups is not without its complexities. We are interested in which category your client self-identifies as. If they themselves indicate that they are in any other category than white British, they are considered to be in the BME category.
A person's country of origin has very little bearing on whether they are eligible for Equal funded support.
This process should be applied to all potential clients. We have specific guidance around the eligibility of potential Romanian and Bulgarian service users: please download this document.
Guidance on BME Eligibility
The following questions establish whether an individual is eligible for Equal funding:
1) Are they resident in this country?
2) Are they legally able to work?
3) Are they 16 years or over?
If they can answer “yes” to all these questions then we move on to look at target groups, if not they are ineligible.
Projects
The following projects target the BME target group:
Further Guidance on Equal Brighton & Hove's Geographical Area
The aim of Equal Brighton & Hove (EBH) is to assist disadvantaged or hard-to-reach target groups in and around the city and increase their employability. Generally, EBH activities are limited to Brighton & Hove. However, we understand that there are instances where service users will reside outside of the city limits. In these instances, where a project can justify the need to serve individuals residing in surrounding areas, it will be acceptable for that project to do so. In particular, if service users are within the travel to work area and looking to work in Brighton, then exceptions to the geographical area of the city itself can be made.
There would be concerns if a project failed to reach beneficiaries within the city at the expense of those from outside the city. For example, if a project’s target group is individuals in a specific disadvantaged area, there would be concerns if it was instead attracting service users from other areas of the city (or even beyond Brighton & Hove generally) or outside the city itself.
Beneficiaries that are attending school in Brighton/Hove (so long as they are aged 16 or over), or make regular use of the city for everyday activities, or live in surrounding areas such as Lewis or Peacehaven, are legible to engage with EBH activities.
Homelessness
The following projects target this target group:
Please note that elegibility criteria varies for each project; check the relevant project page for more detail.
LGBT
Projects that target this target group include:
Eligibility Criteria
16-25 NEET refers to service users who are between the ages of 16 and 25 and not in education, employment or training (NEET).
16 to 25 year olds who are already engaged in some kind of training or who are employed are not part of Equal Brighton & Hove's target groups and are hence not elegibile for funding under this programme unless they fit under any of the other target groups covered by the programme.
Projects that target 16-25 NEETs include:
Please note that many of these projects have joint eligibility criteria with other EBH target groups - please check relevant pages for details.
Disadvantaged Areas - Overview
Originally the target group for people living is specific areas of the city that had higher levels of unemployment or specific needs was "concentrations of worklessness".
Unfortunately this was an ill-defined term and caused a great deal of confusion. “Concentrations of worklessness” has a very specific meaning and is based on Super Output Areas. This is not what was intended when the EMP adopted this group. Furthermore, it cannot be feasibly evidenced.
This term was replaced with Disadvantaged Areas. The 13 prioritised neighbourhoods are included in this area in respect to Equal Brighton and Hove:
And the following five neighbourhoods within the eb4U area are also included with respect to Equal Brighton and Hove:
Eligibility Criteria
Membership in this target group can be evidenced by the beneficiary’s post code and can be verified on CityStats. No individual post code list is available. People who live within these areas are eligible to enrol on EBH-funded projects.
Projects
The following projects target disadvantaged areas:
Research
Research relating to employability and disadvantaged areas includes:
.
People Aged 50+
Potential service users must be aged 50 or over. Anyone below this age is not eligible for EBH funding under this target group.
Projects that directly target people within this target group are:
Research
CROW Seminar
The Centre for Research Into Older Workers (CROW) ran a workshop for Equal projects on the 7th November 2007. The presentations for this event are available to download in Powerpoint Show (PPS) format below.
Drug and Alcohol Misuse Overview
Projects that directly target people within this target group are:
.
Research
Information about barriers to employment faced by this target group can be found on the following pages:
Disabilities
The elegibility criteria for having a disability is in-line with that of the Disability Rights Commission who state that a disability is:
For more information visit the Disability Rights Commission, or their 'What is a Disability Page'.
Projects
The following projects target this target group:
Elegibility criteria may vary from project to project; visit the appropriate project page for more information.
Research
Sources of research relating to barriers to employment and disability include:
Mental Health
The following projects are targeting this group:
Eligibility criteria may vary from project to project; please refer to relevant project pages for more information.
Previous Offenders
The following projects are targeting this group:
Eligibility criteria may vary from project to project; please refer to relevant project pages for more information.
Research
Information about barriers to employment faced by this target group can be found on the following pages:
Refugees
The following projects aim to work primarily with refugees:
Research
Information about barriers to employment faced by this target group can be found on the following pages:
Transnational co-operation is a central feature of Equal.
The transnational emphasis makes sure that lessons are learned across the Member States and examples of good practice are exchanged.
Equal Brighton & Hove's transnational partners are with AMetris,(Area Metropolitana per L'Inclusione Sociale), who are based on Pescara and Chieti, in Italy.
The joint project entitled INCITIES, Integrated Cities Towards Inclusion, Equality and Sustainability, has been set up to explore common themes and processes involved in the delivery of each local project. One of the main areas of commonality is the development of a wide-ranging citywide strategy to tackle discrimination and the inequality of treatment experienced by disadvantaged groups of people in the labour market both in Brighton and Hove and the metropolitan area of Pescara and Chieti.
The programme has chosen to look at the areas of Supported Employment, Corporate Social Responsibility and the role of the voluntary sector in ESF programme delivery.
The penultimate Transnational Programme visit took place from the 12th-16th March 2007. Visitors from Ametris attended two conferences that took place on the 14th and the 16th of March. The first on Social Inclusion and Employment in Local Strategic Planning, and the second on National & Regional Influences on Local Strategic Planning. The Italian delegates also met with staff from Brighton & Hove City Council and were treated to food prepared by the 20-20 Cafe Project - this generated some excellent publicity for the programme in the Argus. On the final day, the Italian delegation met with Brighton & Hove's Mayor at a Civic Reception.
ECOTEC have produced a Good Practice Guide on Transnationality
A.Metr.I.S Project Study Visit March 06
27th March – 31st March 2006
Pescara & Chieti, Italy
The A.Metr.I.S Italian Equal Project Study Visit in March was extremely interesting for all concerned. The following is an overview of the background to our transnational partnership and the project we are working on together.
Our partners are located in Pescara and Chieti, two towns in Abruzzo on the east coast of Italy. The projects were selected as partners due to the similarities of focus.
There are differences, most notably that EBH is a considerably larger DP with 23 different Activity Partners and 70 projects involved in delivery, whereas the A.METR.I.S (Area METRopolitana per l'Inclusione Sociale) project is made up of 7 delivery partners. Due to this we can clearly see that the diversity of projects is not matched in our Italian partners, so it may not be relevant for all EBH partners to take part in these upcoming transnational activities.
However there is still much to share. We have started our working - and may indeed take it to the end of the project - sharing practices around Supported Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility including of course employer engagement.
We are joined in a project entitled IN.CI.T.I.E.S INtegrated Cities Towards Inclusion Equality & Sustainability.
The following is greater background to our partners the A.METR.I.S Project
A.METR.I.S Project:
• The Project is about motivating people to find work and enabling vulnerable and disadvantaged people into work.
• The Partnership consists of the town councils of Pescara & Chieti, the Centre for Voluntary Services, the Employers Union of Pescara, the Trade Union of Pescara and two voluntary organisations Caritas Foundation and The Queen Mary Foundation (Fondazione Maria Regina)
• Supports inter-sector partnership work
• The project operates through two supported employment centres, which function in similar ways to an employment agency and uses a database to match the clients with the employers
• The project follows on from a previous programme called Streets which was funded through Equal Action 1.
• Started Jan 2006, 70 clients to date (March).
• Operate by providing a job mentoring service to their clients, helping clients to job search and equip themselves with skills such as CV writing, interview practice etc.
• If the clients need further training, the project refers them on to the appropriate agency.
• The case loads provide support until the client is able to support themselves, though this is not open-ended and clients are encouraged to take control of their situations
• Clients include people from disadvantaged groups such as disabilities, older workers, ex-offenders, ex-substance misusers
• 2 Centres; Pescara and Chieti.
• The Project works closely with employers to understand their needs and employment opportunities, offering the following services:
o Recruitment Service
o Employer Mentoring
o Information on employment law etc through the Supported Employment Technician, see below organisational breakdown
o Payment of expenses to the client
• The project markets itself to clients through sending information to
o Social Services/Benefits Agency – most referrals come from here
o Trade Unions
o Voluntary Associations
o Job Centre – good source of referrals
o Relatives/Friends ‘Word of Mouth’
o Pamphlets
o People passing by the shop front office and dropping in
o PR
• The clients must have proof of their need - i.e. medical certificate for disability
• The project markets itself to employers through:
o Employers Union
o Trade Associations
o Phone Contact
o Staff Leasing Agencies
o Mailshots to companies
o Looking through recruitment ads in local press and contacting employers
Background:
• Unemployment at 24% in the South of Italy (from Rome down)
• Youth Unemployment at 60% in the South
• Unemployment made up of 2/3 female vs. 1/3 male
• Today 4/100 employees are employed through public recruitment agencies
• Taxes are recognised as high, 8 million registered businesses
• No minimum wage
• Part time work isn’t common though temporary contracts are
• Cash in hand/Black Market represents an estimated 30% of total GDP across Italy
Italian Employment Contracts:
• Apprenticeship contract for 15 to 29 yrs – poorly paid
• Trainee Contract for 6 months – unpaid - bursary e400/500 per month for expenses. Incl. people with disabilities
• 'Contract for project collaboration' – no age limit, no job security – employers can terminate the contract and re-start with new staff the following day
• Temporary Contract – same as the UK
• Intermittent job contract – temporary seasonal work
• Fortuitous services – 30 days / annum contracts for up to e5,000 p.a. in service areas such as domestic, agricultural and care work. National Insurance and pensions to be paid by employee. Limited rights
• Staff Leasing – no fixed term
• Temporary Contract Fixed Term
• Permanent Contract – dismissal from employment very difficult, most sought after contract but now hard to find. Set up some years ago to protect workers rights, reality of situation means those in these contracts will not move, often resulting in low productivity and employers are reluctant to offer similar contracts in future. Many statutory workers have these contracts.
Working with Socially Excluded People:
• 1999 ‘Service for Compulsory Employment’ Law introduced stating that 1/15 jobs should be assigned to a disabled worker – only applies to permanent contracts
• Contract of Integration – to encourage employers to take disadvantaged people on by awarding pay of 2 grades lower
• B-Coops – if 30% of employees are disadvantaged then these Coops don’t have to go through the normal tendering process for contracts, getting extra points for their employees. They also do not have to pay any taxes on contracts for up to 8 years.
Abruzzo Region – Pescara and Chieti:
• High percentage of older people in Abruzzo region (incl. Pescara & Chieti)
• 1/3 of land is nature reserves, highest percentage in Europe
• Unemployment 7.8%
• GDP e24.5 billion – import e3.5 billion; export e5.3 billion
• 3rd largest producer of wine in Italy
• Up until 10 years ago the Government gave assistance for development of manufacturing plants; since this has ceased, a large amount of industry has left the region. The knock on effect has been social cohesion and social support issues.
Members of the Equal Core team and a small number of professionals have completed the final Transnational Programme visit with a trip to Pescara & Chieti. The visit was split into two parts: 2 days of workshops and meetings centred on corporate social responsibility, and a further 2 days of conferences on Actions 2 and 3.
The group also visited the De Cecco pasta factory in the Chieti hills. De Cecco are one of the biggest pasta-making companies in Italy and are leading the way with implementing a culture of social inclusion and responsibility to their employees and community in the Abruzzo region.
There are a number economic similarities between Brighton & Hove and Pescara & Chieti including an importance in both on the retail, food and tourism industries. There are also elements of light manufacturing and both are coastal areas.
The visit was a great success and provided many opportunities for discussion and sharing experiences, especially those on current working practices. The week-long visit ended on 25th May.
Equal Brighton & Hove and Ametris are involved in the development of a transnational programme which spans the two years of Equal Action 2 delivery. The project is entitled INCITIES, INtegrated Cities Towards Inclusion, Equality and Sustainability.
The project has involved two study visits thus far, whereby delegates from both projects have visited each country to understand further the aims and processes involved in their Equal delivery.
The project has been focusing on the themes of
- Supported Employment: discovering the various methods of delivery through EBH and Ametris, and
- Corporate Social Responsibility: sharing practices and discussion around methods of engaging local businesses in one of the key elements of the Equal Employability theme.
The most recent study visit took place in Brighton & Hove during June 2006. Please see the attached report to find out more about the activities and learning that took place.
INCITIES has succeeded in engaging a number of EBH projects and also developing a new website in which to store documents pertaining both to INCITIES progress and local information, best practice and documents.
The website is accessible only through a username and password, which can be obtained through Transnational Coordinator Harriet Gill. The website is sited on the home page of our partner's website www.ametris.it
The next stage in the Incities workplan is to develop interest through individual projects and our relationship with all aspects of Ametris.
We have a study visit programmed for October 16 - 20, which will again be looking at supported employment and developing ways of sharing practice.
There will also be a forum examining the role of the voluntary sector in the delivery of Equal projects.
The visit will give project workers the opportunity to meet their counterparts and work together on the project.
Further INCITIES projects are planned for February 2007 where we intend to link local businesses from both cities in Pescara, to work together to form a viable approach to involving vulnerable people in their work forces and understanding how business support needs can be met.
March 12th - 16th 2007 will see a series of events in Brighton & Hove involving local, regional, national and European policy makers to look at the future of work practices piloted through Equal Action 2. There will also be focused workshops examining the Public Private partnership with insight into potential future practice.
Our final event will take place in May 2008 in Pescara and Chieti and will round up the projects findings and present them as part of a wider dissemination event for the Ametris Equal programme.
Further information about all these events will be featured on this website in the coming months, or can be obtained by contacting Oliver Gill on (01273) 294673.
The Sussex Disability Guide - A useful resource.
The Sussex Disability Employment Directory - A guide to help people find the information they need about disability and employment.
BME - Black and Minority Ethnic
CIEH - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
CLAIT - Computer Literacy and Information Technology
EET - Employment Education or Training
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
FE - Further Education
ICT - Information and Communication Technology
IPPO - Identified Prolific and Priority Offender (or Prolific and Persistent Offender
IT - Information Technology
LC - learning coaches
LGBT - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
NEET - Not in Employment Education or Training
NVQ - National Vocational Qualification
OCN - Open College Network
OCSW - Outreach Community Support Worker
PA - Personal Adviser
RFET - Richmond Fellowship Employment and Training
Soft Outcomes - Outcomes that represent intermediary stages on the way to achieving a clearly-definable and quantifiable result