Employment & Learning Centre Successes

Success Story: Natasha

Employment Programme: The Community Work Experience Partnership

Natasha was referred to our CWEP project by her care manager. Since leaving school, Natasha had spent most of her time at home feeling bored. Initially shy, Natasha came to our Employment & Learning Centre with her sister to build up a vocational profile and decided that she wanted to work with children.

With support from a Camden Society Employment Advisor, Natasha researched childcare opportunities and created her CV and a cover letter. She completed one day courses in Health & Safety, First Aid and Food Hygiene, boosting her CV and developing her employability skills.

Using our IT facilities to develop her computer skills, with support Natasha researched and secured an 8-week placement at the Regent's Park Children's Centre.

Supported by a job coach for the first 3 weeks, Natasha built relationships with colleagues and developed her communication skills. No support was required for interacting with the children however, as Natasha was a natural at encouraging creative play. With the coaching gradually withdrawn, Natasha continued to receive travel support to get to her placement. Her coach maintained contact with Natasha's employer and all feedback was positive.

At the end of her placement, Natasha's goals were focused on achieving an NVQ2 in Health & Social Care. Seeking further work opportunities to support her qualification, Natasha picked up the phone and contacted employers herself, demonstrating her new-found confidence.

Successful in gaining voluntary work, Natasha now works 2 days a week at a local community nursery.

Natasha is now travelling independently to her job and receives no in-work support to fulfill her duties. On completion of her NVQ, Natasha aims to get a paid job. To support this, she has enrolled onto our OCN-accredited Progression to Employment course and is learning about interview skills, budgeting and employment contracts.

Success Story: Robin

Employment Programme: Access Employment Agency Greenwich

With several previous unsuccessful attempts to get a job under different employment and training initiatives, Robin was feeling extremely demotivated when we invited him to attend our Access to Employment Agency in Greenwich.

Determined to offer a new approach to Robin, our AEA advisors worked with Robin and his family to create a new supportive partnership. This resulted in a turnaround which boosted Robin's confidence and gave him a new sense of enthusiasm as well as a useful source of feedback. With these relationships in place, we created a plan of action to gradually support Robin into work.

With his family and advisors behind him, Robin was hired as a match-day steward at Charlton Athletic FC. He was supported to complete all the madatory Football Stewarding Qualifications by the Football Association and received travel training and support with benefits issues. We negotiated with Robin's employer and agreed on key supports to help Robin to retain his job.

Success Story: Jess

Employment Programme: The Work Prep Project

Jess was referred to our Work Prep programme by a Disability Employment Advisor at her local Jobcentre Plus. Having lived on income support for three years following the death of her partner, Jess had tried for nine months without success to get a job.

Following an assessment with a Camden Society Employment Advisor, Jess joined our Work Prep groups where she learned about personal presentation, CV preparation and interview skills.

Feeling more confident, Jess applied for jobs and got support to attend interviews and assessment centres at Marks & Spencer, Ladbrokes and John Lewis.

Jess throughly enjoyed her experiences at the initially daunting assessment days, having been prepared for completing tasks in groups on the Work Prep programme.

Jess was successful in impressing her interviewers at John Lewis and secured a full-time job.