We've been awarded £103,000 for our project to support unemployed people in Portsmouth, Gosport and Southampton get back into work!
The project's called Unlimited Potential (UP).
It's received £58,000 for Gosport and the Charles Dickens area in Portsmouth, and £45,000 for Millbrook and Mansbridge in Southampton, from the Solent Support Employment (SSE) Programme.
The SSE programme is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), local authority match funding and donors from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF), through which the programme is managed. Abri has also committed an additional £51,000 to the project.
UP will offer employment and wellbeing training and support to 50 people across the three areas.
As well as regular one-to-one support with an employment advisor and access to a careers hub, the courses will help people:
- Professionalise their CV.
- Search and apply for roles.
- Take part in mock interviews.
- Anxiety and wellbeing sessions.
- Understand and use mindfulness techniques.
The CREATE self-employment course will also be available for those wanting to explore the opportunity of setting up their own business.
All participants will benefit from training followed by two-years of support, with access to highly skilled business mentors, regular business support clubs, marketplace events, continued training, and a dedicated Facebook page.
Grant Cornwell MBE, Chief Executive of HIWCF said: “We are delighted to be working with the European Social Fund, together with our local authorities in Hampshire, to provide this vital opportunity to help and encourage local people to find their way into work. Our communities have been massively impacted by Covid-19 this year and the grant funding from the SSE programme is enabling organisations such as Abri to increase the prospects of vulnerable local people, making a lasting difference to their lives. I would like to thank our funding partners and HIWCF donors for supporting the programme as our work would not be possible without their goodwill and generosity.”
This project will allow us to provide life changing support, helping those people most in need to overcome challenges and improve their long-term job prospects. As well as helping improve people’s immediate wellbeing, these projects will help participants address the root causes of long-term unemployment.
“With high street retailers going into administration, and the impact of Covid-19, this project is needed now more than ever.
“We’ve invested £15m over the next five years in our communities that need it the most, to improve their health and wellbeing, increase employment opportunities, and empower communities.
Managing Director of Community Services Company at Abri