Sir Stephen Timms MP visits Chard Opportunities Hub to see local employment support in action
On 31 August 2023, Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, and Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director of Communities that Work (CtW) visited Chard Opportunities Hub to find out about how the hub has been delivering a local approach to lifting employment barriers.
Based in Chard Library, the Opportunities Hub opened in December 2021 with the support of Abri, one of the south’s largest housing providers. Sir Stephen Timms, who is also the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, had the chance to see the Hub in action.
The Hub offers employment support delivered by Abri to anyone living in the South Somerset area: whether they’re unemployed and looking for work, hoping to change role or even looking to upskill or retrain. It’s a much-appreciated part of the community, having helped over 200 customers between Chard and Yeovil Libraries since its opening. Hubs like these are being celebrated by groups such as CtW, a national body of social landlords that enable housing providers to support people into employment.
Sir Stephen Timms said: “Chard Opportunities Hub is a great example of locally delivered employment support. Last July, the Work and Pensions Committee’s report on “Plan for Jobs and employment support” called for wider eligibility, for people not claiming benefits, to employment support, and for devolved delivery. Today I’ve seen firsthand how Abri has implemented this approach, working with local partners to give everyone in the community access to training or sustained employment. The Hub’s passion for supporting the local community shines through.”
The Opportunities Hub takes a localised approach to employment support, working closely with Somerset Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and partners in the third sector to deliver a service that meets the needs of the community. Alongside employment and training, the hubs have learning opportunities and training to help people develop financial independence and encourage good health and wellbeing. You can find out more about how the hub was created and how it’s been helping the community, here.
Lynsey Sweeney said: “It’s great to see a local approach working so well in action. Communities that Work’s campaign, A Future That Works, is asking the next government to support the delivery of similar models across the country. We’re asking for a commitment to end employment poverty within five years, work locally to deliver employment support and to work alongside local leaders, businesses and social housing providers to make sure any investment in local support matches local need.”
Debra Scarratt, Group Employment Services Manager at Abri and Vice Chair at CtW, said: “Abri’s mission is to empower lives and build communities, we’re delighted that the Opportunities Hub is doing just that for the Chard community. It was a pleasure to host Sir Stephen Timms MP at the Hub and we look forward to seeing how the Government moves forward with the recommendations made by the Plan for Jobs and employment support report.”