Stoke-on-Trent Projects
Stoke-on-Trent has been one of the main areas of Staffordshire to benefit from European Union funding with 11 Projects being awarded grant. Below is a summary of a number of Projects' aims and achievements.
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Project Name: Communities Under Construction
Project Sponsor: Empowering People Inspiring Communities Ltd (EPIC)
Funding Awarded: £69,888
Project Duration January 2008 - June 2008
Communities Under Construction is a Project which provided 16-24 year olds from three of the most deprived wards in Stoke-on-Trent - Bentilee, Blurton and Burslem - with the opportunity to gain construction-related qualifications and on-the-job training through a structured programme which provided a bridge between the construction industry and the socially excluded.
Participants were supported through the process by dedicated mentors who offered help from ensuring that they arrived on time, to placements, through to assisting with family problems, behavioural issues and other practical difficulties.
Achievements:
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27 people trained and receiving a part-vocational qualification
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3 people starting up their own construction-related business
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8 people gaining employment in the industry
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Pictured here is Alpha Diallo, who gained a bricklaying job as a result of starting the course.
Picture courtesy of The Sentinel
Although this particular Project is not continuing EPIC Housing are now working in partnership with a variety of organisations on the JETS Job Brokerage Scheme in North Stoke - information on which can be found on the Stoke City Council Website|||| (external site) or by telephoning 01782 222362.
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Project Name: ICT in Daily Life
Project Sponsor: Vision
Funding Awarded: £4,860
Project Duration: February 2008 to June 2008
The ICT in Daily Life Project was one of our smaller projects, and fairly late in commencing. Its aim was to increase the skills and capabilities of people to enable them to adopt ICT into their everyday life and to enable access to employment and further education opportunities. The Project targeted primarily members of BME groups, who had previously missed educational or training opportunities and were not ICT literate. Key characteristics of the Project were to provide structured training equivalent to ONC Level 1 with each individual undergoing an initial assessment followed by the development of a personalised learning plan.
Six training modules were delivered:
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Concepts of IT
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Using the Computer and Managing Files
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Word Processing
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Spreadsheets
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Database
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Information Technology
Training was delivered at the Dudson Centre, Hanley Central Library, Hope Centre and Longton Library.
Achievements:
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17 people receiving advice, guidance and counselling
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4 unemployed people trained
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6 employed people trained
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5 people receiving help with childcare
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Project Name: Enterprise Facilitation
Sponsor: Stoke-on-Trent City Council/BizFizz
Funding Awarded: £33,873
Project Duration: December 2006 - December 2008
The City of Stoke-on-Trent has one of the lowest business start-up rates in England and is one of the main contributors to the very low wage levels in the City and the associated deprivation. Furthermore, many businesses which do start remain small, often one-person organisations, and do not access mainstream business supportdue to lack of capacity or cultural issues.
This Project is seeking to address these issues by helping the local community of Middleport to manage its own economic development activities, by forming a Local Network Panel, which meets on a regular basis and manages and assists in the creation of a range of new business initiatives.
With the assistance of an "Enterprise Facilitator" provided by the partner organisation - BizFizz - the Project has supported 17 new business start-ups, some already employing local residents.
For further information visit the Stoke City Council Website|||| (external site)
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Project Name: Landau Choices
Project Sponsor: Landau Limited
Funding Awarded: £29,662
Project Duration: January 2008 - June 2008
The Landau Choices Project has supported unemployed people with learning difficulties by helping them to gain confidence, skills and qualifications through a programme of work experience which ultimately enabled many to go into employment and voluntary work.
Beneficiaries were recruited through a variety of agencies in the Project area with delivery of the Programme being carried out by staff employed by Landau Limited.
Achievements:
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29 people trained
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20 people have achieved a part-vocational qualification in Health & Safety, Manual Handling, First Aid and/or Food Hygeine
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3 people have gone into full-time employment and/or voluntary work
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13 people were provided with work placements
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Pictured here are some of the Project's beneficiaries receiving their Certificates at a recent awards ceremony.
The Project continues to provide support through alternative funders.
For further information visit the Landau Website|||| (external site)
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Project Name: Motivate Plus
Project Sponsor: Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire YMCA
Funding Awarded: £247,097
Project Duration: November 2004 - June 2008
This Project has been working to improve the employability of people who are disadvantaged because of their social circumstances - for example the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees.
A tailored programme of activities within the YMCA was put in place to:
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Increase motivation, confidence and self-esteem
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Provide advice and guidance on a one-to-one basis to gauge each individual's aspirations and to prepare a personal action plan
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Provide accredited training opportunities
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Offer easy access to ICT facilities
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Assist in CV preparation and job-search activities as well as signposting individuals into further education and training
Achievements:
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492 people have received advice, guidance and counselling resulting in increased levels of self-esteem and confidence
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113 people have received environmental training - 89 going onto receive an OCN environmental qualification
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249 people went into further education and/or training
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64 people gained employment
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98 people were resettled within the local community
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Read Andrew's story . . .
For further information visit the
YMCA Website|||| (external site)
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Project Name: SelfStart - Treehouse Children's Centre
Project Sponsor: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Funding Awarded: £684,428
Project Duration: April 2005 - December 2008
This Project is providing the local residents of Bentilee with the opportunity to train in managing and running a small business. Within the purpose-built, ERDF funded Children's Centre, are 3 "Community Enterprises" which are providing a range of courses and opportunities. These are:
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The "Community Cafe" which not only provides training in business management and catering, but also promotes healthy eating to highlight the importance of meal times to families
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"Play Space" which comprises a range of slides, climbing equipment, soft play and ball pits together with a party room which is available for hire. Parties are facilitated by trained volunteer play-workers with catering available from the Community Cafe. This space is also used for a variety of training sessions by local voluntary mother and toddler groups and the Bentilee Young Parents Group.
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"ArtStart" which sells consumables ranging from rainy-day crayons and rice-paper packs to pipe-cleaner and balloon modelling kits. For a nominal fee parents and carers of young children are provided with the necessary tools, skills and ideas to ensure their children are not bored. ArtStart parties and demonstrations are also offered. Ultimately ArtStart will grow into a commission-paid enterprise run by self-employed agents.
Achievements:
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3 Community Enterprises have been established generating £39,000 in sales
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6 new jobs have been created within the Centre itself
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99 volunteers and trainees have been attracted to the Centre 72 of which received basical capacity building training with 39 going onto receive accredited OCN and NVQ qualifications
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20 people have consequently gained employment as a result of their training and volunteering activities
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For further information visit the Treehouse Children's Centre Website|||| (external site)
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Project Name: STACE Plus
Project Sponsor: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Funding Awarded: £41,453
Project Duration: January 2008 - June 2008
The STACE Plus project is an enhancement of an existing, wider-targeted STACE project but with focus aimed purely on Bentilee, Blurton and Burslem South. Key characteristics of the enhanced programme are:
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Intensive 1-2-1 support with the allocation of an individual Caseworker providing support throughout the Programme
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Vocational training
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Supported work placements
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Job Search activities
The Project has been delivered by four dedicated Caseworkers who are allocated to specific areas of the city. Clients are referred from a range of sources that have been developed as part of the initial STACE programme - in particular Job Centre Plus - and are also aided by Stoke-on-Trent College who are involved as a training provider.
Achievements:
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84 people have received 1-2-1 advice, guidance and counselling
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20 people have obtained an NVQ Level 1 qualification
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23 people have gained employment
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It is hoped to continue the Project with alternative funders. For further information visit the Stoke City Council Website|||| (external site)
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Project Name: StartUp City Wide
Project Sponsor: Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire YMCA
Funding Awarded: £55,323
Project Duration: January 2008 - June 2008
The Start-Up City Wide Project has addressed educational under-achievement and worklessness through individualised support and training to overcome barriers that prevent socially and economically disadvantaged parents of children up to the age of 16 from returning to work.
The Project has built upon the successful experience of the Work Start programme by providing support to parents to help them re-engage with training and move them closer to, and into, employment.
The Project was delivered by Support Workers based at Children's Centres in Westfield, Blurton, Kingsland, Crescent Hope, Thomas Boughey, Stoke North, Treehouse as well as at the Middleport Community Hub and the Alexandra School.
Achievements:
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266 people receiving advice, guidance and counselling
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75 people obtaining a part-vocational qualification
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7 people gaining employment
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44 people supported to access Jobcentre Plus services
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46 people undertaking basic skills assessments
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Pictured are David Williams (Programme Manager) and Caroline Hall receiving an award at a recent celebratory event at the Bridge Centre in Birches Head.
The Project hopes to continue with alternative funders. For further information visit the StartUp City Wide Website|||| (external site)
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Name of Project: Westfields Sure Start Children's Centre
Project Sponsor: North Stoke Primary Care Trust
Funding Awarded: £596,397
Project Duration: October 2003 to December 2006
Both capital and revenue funding was provided for this Project which enabled the construction of a purpose-built, single storey, Children's centre adjacent to an existing nursery and education centre in Normacot. The Centre opened in Spring 2005.
Revenue funding provided for a comprehensive expansion and support team comprising a Training Officer, Monitoring Officer, Learning Co-ordinator, Development Officers, Crèche Workers and an Administrator. The team not only provided quality childcare services to enable residents take up training or employment, but will also directly provided and facilitated a range of free services, including vocational advice and guidance, basic/key skills, vocational tasters, work preparation sessions, job broking services. Free crèche places were also offered to every eligible resident involved in the training and support offered.
The Centre has also created innovative opportunities through a wide range of community capacity building initiatives to engage long term unemployed residents, including the development of a community café, as well as other community enterprises such as a mobile crèche facility and toy manufacture. Involvement in these activities has provided an excellent grounding in which to develop vocational skills, work readiness and self employment potential.
Achievements:
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8 new jobs created within the Centre
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9 people gaining employment as a result of training/ volunteering activities
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36 trainee/volunteer placements provided
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110 people gaining basic life skills
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53 people gaining accredited qualifications
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178 people receiving advice, guidance and counselling
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For further information visit the Stoke City Council Pages for Westfield| (external site)
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Project Name: Building Community Capacity through Involvement & Volunteering
Project Sponsor: Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent (VAST)
Funding Awarded: £63,763
Project Duration: June 2007 to December 2008
Building on a pilot, this Project provides volunteer centre services in Priority 3 areas of Stoke-on-Trent which include:
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Publicising volunteering opportunities
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Recruiting and placing volunteers
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Providing training to local VCS groups on managing volunteers
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Providing training to volunteers in effective working techniques
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Providing work experience to volunteers
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Access for volunteers to VAST's range of training programmes.
Funding has enabled a Volunteer Development Worker to work on an outreach basis exclusively in the Priority 3 areas. The overall objective of the Project is to increase volunteering opportunities for local residents, provide training to volunteers in basic skills and effective working techniques, and provide a route and pathway to employment, particularly the long term unemployed, disabled people and BME communities.
Achievements:
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27 volunteers placed in community projects
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3 volunteers achieving a part-vocational qualification
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For further information visit the VAST Website|||| (external site)
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