An employment programme led by Charity Landau, that helps Herefordshire people into work is holding a celebration event on Wednesday 22nd September to showcase the various opportunities available and the achievements of participants who have been supported by the project. This project is part funded by The European Social Fund. Through funding made available to mark The National Lottery’s 25th birthday, the event taking place at the Kindle Centre, Hereford, will be an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to National Lottery and celebrate the huge impact that this funding has had on enabling local charities to promote social inclusion and drive jobs and growth in Herefordshire.
The Building Better Opportunities Hereford Project, funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, has been supporting those furthest away from the labour market, helping them move forwards into employment since 2018. The project has continued to deliver support throughout the various lockdowns and is looking forward to supporting local people, particularly the economically inactive, to re-enter the job market as job vacancies rise as part of UK post pandemic economic recovery.
The programme, run by a partnership of 7 Hereford based organisations led by Landau, is tackling poverty by helping locals build their confidence and skills, and tackle individual barriers which prevents participants
from gaining employment. These barriers are frequently associated with mental health, long term unemployment, physical health problems and/or disability. The Celebration Event will include presentations from all 7 partners who have all had to adopt new innovative approaches to continue to deliver their services during the last 18 months and will hear testimonies from individuals who have found these services a lifeline during the pandemic.
The day will include a juice production workshop from Hereford Wildlife Trust as part of the conservation and horticulture training programmes they offer, woodcraft skills presentations from The Cart Shed and cookery demonstrations from hvoss, Hereford voluntary organisation, who will be launching their ‘Baking a difference’ book recording the personal stories and recipes participants shared during lockdown. Information about the wide range of training, social and work skills programmes will be provided by other partners Vennture, Red Spark Learning, Landau, National Community Learning Partnership and South Wye Development Trust.
Landau CEO Sonia Roberts said: “We welcome this fantastic opportunity to bring all our BBO Partners together to celebrate our achievements over the last 3 years and thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support. Our Partnership has shown great resilience over the last 18 months and we look forward to continue offering those in Herefordshire farthest from the job market (average unemployed participant have been out of work for over 5 years) support in finding work. So far we have exceeded all our ‘into work’ targets and the project has supported more than 1000 people, 50% of which are disabled, to increase their confidence and skills, and improve their chances of finding jobs.”