Over 1,000 housing tenants helped by employment project
25 Mar 2021 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Over 1,000 people in the North of Tyne area have now benefitted from an employment project run jointly by housing companies, learning providers and local authorities.
Led by Northumberland County Council on behalf of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, North of Tyne Working Homes is a partnership providing support to council and social housing tenants, to help them move into work, education or training.
Over 1,000 people have already taken part and benefitted from the invaluable service, with over 250 securing jobs, in what are difficult economic circumstances.
The project is a partnership between Bernicia Homes, Karbon Homes, North Tyneside Council, Your Homes Newcastle and Northumberland County Council – along with specialist employability support organisations Northern Learning Trust and Newcastle Futures.
One of Karbon Homes’ residents who has already benefitted is Jason Gallon from Prudhoe.
Last year, Jason was made redundant from his job of 12 years, so he turned to Karbon’s North of Tyne Working Homes team to help him find work.
His employment advisor put in place an action plan to support him and his family and helped him to develop his CV, carry out job searches and encouraged him to attend a local jobs fair to make new contacts and look for potential work.
He initially secured work as a customer delivery driver for Tesco and now works for B&M. Jason says: “It’s a role I enjoy very much. I worked hard over the summer and I am happy to have found work and feel more confident than I did a year ago. I am really happy with the support I received from my employment advisor Brendan McCreesh and the Karbon Homes team.”
Suzanne Jobson, Foundations for Life Manager at Karbon Homes, added: “We are delighted to see the impact this project is making to the lives of local people like Jason, and it is a great example of organisations coming together by stepping up and supporting their tenants and residents.”
Cllr John Riddle, cabinet member for housing at Northumberland County Council said: “This is proving to be a great service and we are proud to be able to offer vital opportunities towards improving education and employment options for the council’s housing tenants.
“To reach this milestone means so much to the council and all of the partners. It’s not just a number, it’s over 1,000 individual people being helped to prepare for and find work and financial security.
“To have achieved this and still manage to help so many people into work in the current climate is a testament to the quality of support provided across the project.”
Gill Smith, CEO at Northern Learning Trust, added: “Through bringing together a diverse range of delivery partners, the North of Tyne Working Homes project provides a broad range of opportunities and support, enabling local people to develop their skills and make positive changes in their lives.
“Social housing providers are so much more than just landlords these days and as a small charity, Northern Learning Trust is proud to be able to support our housing partners to deliver this fantastic service.”
North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Employability and Inclusion Cllr Joyce McCarty said: “Our Working Homes programme recognises that by working in partnership with housing providers we can deliver a range of support which is flexible and tailored to individual need.
“This can include formal and informal learning, skills development, job preparation, job brokerage and help to manage tenancies. Once people enter work, support from an employment coach will continue to help them stay in work and progress.
“It’s a long-term approach focussed on improving people’s lives, that is central to our ambition to build an inclusive economy in the North of Tyne.”
The project is part funded by the European Social Fund and was launched in April 2019.
To find out more about the North of Tyne Working Homes project go to https://www.northoftyne-ca.gov.uk/projects/working-homes/