Job seekers event in St John’s (Walton on Thames)
A partnership project between Elmbridge Community Learning Partnership, Walton Church Army, One Elmbridge Partnership, Brooklands College and Jobcentre Plus following requests from the community for Jobcentre Plus to visit, led to the idea of a ‘job seekers’ event idea. A team assembled to pilot the idea. The above partners along with Citizens Advice Bureau, MB Learning (Nextstep Advisers) and the Fire Brigade agreed to take a stand on 25 November 2009 at the St John's centre.
The group decided to name this event 'WALK: work, advice, learning, knowledge'. A leaflet and a press release were produced by the Community Learning Partnership for distribution to schools, Job Centre, Children’s Centres and Housing Trusts. A copy was put through the letter box of each house on the estate. This pilot event was attended by a small number of local residents,and all agencies present were able to offer help and advice and had requests to follow up. In a debriefing partners were not discouraged: Next Step Advisers were able to complete three interviews; the Citizens Advice Bureau referred a several people on and Jobcentre Plus helped three people.
Promoting Learning at Burhill Children’s Centre, Hersham
Elizabeth Whiddett was invited to speak to the North Surrey Children’s Centre Managers about learning in the community. The subject had been frequently requested by those new to this area as they found the array of provision, eligibility and funding quite confusing.
Sue Hams of Burhill Children’s Centre was particularly keen to offer work skills to centre users and Elizabeth arranged for Brooklands College to accompany her to a meeting to talk about what they could offer. Several parents decided on a numeracy course, and following some promotion by Sue in the attached primary school a class started in October 2009
Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership is independent and able to offer guidance on all providers in the area and also information on funding.
