ABOUT OUR FUNDED CLIENT GROUP
THE BARRIERS TO FURTHER TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
The common barriers to accessing current provision faced by the women we help are one or
more of the following:
- lack of up-to-date skills/qualifications
- low or no qualifications (43% of our current client group have
NVQ level 1 equivalent or lower)
- financial constraints
- caring responsibilities, especially childcare
- lack of knowledge of career and educational opportunities available
- previous negative experience of education/ training and/or employment
- lack of confidence/ lack of motivation
- lack of support from family members
- lack of transport/ driving licence
- health issues
- physical or mental health problems
- discrimination
Currently half of the 500 plus women we help each year are from black and minority ethnic groups.
The majority of these are legal immigrants, and the rest are British citizens.
We have discovered that as well as facing the barriers outlined above they also face additional
problems due to:
more...
- Lack of understanding of English, both written and spoken. Many of this group
are educated to level 4 or 5 but their written/spoken English may be less than level 2.
- Lack of understanding of English 'jargon' and systems, especially with regards
to recruitment terminology and protocol e.g. many do not understand the significance
of the term 'referee' on application forms or how to present a CV.
- Non-recognition in the UK of their qualifications.
- Unaware of options e.g. transferring or upgrading teaching qualifications
- Non-understanding of transferring previous experience into an 'English' format
and therefore not adequately selling their skills.
- Lack of knowledge of how to present themselves positively at interviews, because of cultural differences
- Poor knowledge of where to go for information especially in Milton Keynes town centre,
which has a unique layout. For example there is no High Street,
employment agencies are located in the business district of the town and
there is no centrally located college.
- Cultural or Religious issues may prevent them from entering mixed sex classes.
- Lack of experience in interacting with people of other nationalities or cultures
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HOW OUR SERVICES HELP ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS
We address these issues by
- Raising Confidence
- Identifying Transferable Skills
- Offering free provision with travel expenses reimbursed for courses
- Free Crèche facilities
- All activities taking place during school term time and in school hours
- Experienced and Empathetic staff and tutors
have long term experience of this client group.
Some have experience of similar situations.
They therefore provide 'informal' mentoring and act as role models for the clients.
- Interviews and Action Plans
Clients are given an in depth interview where they produce a personal action plan.
They have access to as many follow on support sessions as necessary,
where they receive assessment and review of training and support into employment through
extra help with c.v.s and interview practice as well as support for personal issues
affecting their training and employment prospects.
- Access to Support Officer, Basic Skills Support and a Support Group
Clients receive as much support and encouragement as they need to progress into paid employment
and/or mainstream provision,
through the Support Officer, Basic Skills support, staff and access to a support group.
- Training
is provided in a safe, friendly and highly supportive environment
that allows clients to gain the confidence, skills, qualifications and aspirations necessary to
enter paid employment and/or mainstream training provision.
- Job Search Skills Courses
Job Search Skills courses includes elements of personal presentation
to give the clients insight into how to present
themselves in a 'professional' environment.
- Work-Home Balance
The Interpersonal Skills course includes elements of stress and time
management.Many women with caring responsibilities especially lone parents find this beneficial
to managing work-home balance.
- Mixed Ethnicity Groups
Courses are of mixed ethnicity to enable participants to gain experience of interacting
with other cultures. This allows them to explore similarities and differences in a positive manner.
- Voluntary Work Experience
There is also voluntary work experience available to enable some clients,
lacking a recent work history and/ or confidence, to gain hands-on experience and
further training for certain career opportunities.
- Overseas Qualification Matching
Access to overseas qualification matching is available, where required, through NARIC.
- Finance
Welfare Rights/ Citizens Advice Bureau can explain to women how benefits are affected by
paid employment and what benefits will be available on gaining paid employment.
This is designed to alleviate financial concerns regarding making the transition into paid
employment.
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WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US
- Moderator's letter
- OCN moderator
We recieved a glowing report from our OCN moderator for
our Interpersonal Skills and FreshStart courses.
Click here to view the summary.
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