Chapter 3: Create fair employment and work for all

Funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund until March 2023, the Aspire team delivers two employability projects to support unemployed Gateshead residents. 

In supporting those furthest from the labour market we have developed a deep understanding of their needs, and how best to build up trust and solid relationships with them while gently moving them towards employment. People face a range of barriers in terms of employment, including:

• Physical and mental health, including loneliness and social isolation
• Addictions
• Homelessness
• Long term unemployment and lack of understanding on how working 'works'/fear of coming off benefits/debts
• Lack of confidence and not recognising their potential
• Limited training, references or education/work experience and unexplained gaps in employment
• Feeling overwhelmed with job searching
• Lack of digital skills/access to equipment
• Caring responsibilities and unaffordable childcare/nursery fees in relation to salary, as well as limited access to training courses or working hours that match school hours
• English as a second language 

Our employability projects support both men and women through:

• Exploring interests and transferable skills
• Improving confidence, building aspirations and motivations, self-worth and abilities
• Creating CVs
• Job search support and understanding job adverts
• Help with application forms and interview skills/techniques/preparation
• Training, learning, volunteering and work experience opportunities
• In work benefits advice and "better off" calculations
• Referrals to specialist support such as self-employment/business start up
• In work support

We also run a wellbeing project to help people gain the softer skills required to think about and progress towards work. Our Wellbeing Coaches use the Five Ways to Wellbeing model to develop individual progress plans that help people to recognise their own strengths and self-worth. The model enables people to holistically build their wellbeing, while nudging them out of their comfort zones to tackle their fears so they can build the confidence and soft skills needed to engage with skills-focused training other employability support' to include 'while nudging them out of their comfort zones to tackle their fears so they can build the confidence and soft skills needed to engage with skills-focused training and other employability support.

Many have experienced trauma or crisis in their life. For some this has had a direct impact on their wellbeing or led them to lose their self-confidence and experience challenges with relationships and emotional, psychological or physical ill health. Each individual receives a mixture of one-to one and group support, with many starting off with individual support to build up the confidence to take part in small group wellbeing activities. Within one-to-one sessions, all participants have expressed a desire to improve their current situation and wellbeing, but many didn't know how or felt overwhelmed by their current circumstances. 

The main issues have been around loneliness, isolation and lack of purpose and direction. Some people have displayed feelings of hopelessness and negativity. Many have found it difficult to think or plan beyond their day or week, as they have felt unable to manage day-to-day activities and life challenges. In turn, this has hindered their ability to participate in social activities, learning, or take notice of their surrounding environment. One-to-one support has focused on positive steps to wellbeing such as eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping, relaxing, spending time in nature, connecting with others, having fun and taking up a new hobby or trying something new.

We also have an urban garden and one lady in particular has really enjoyed painting stones and bird boxes, and planting a number of spring bulbs in the ground and in pots, bringing hope and joy for the future. This has provided a place of calm for people and one lady fed back after a bird box painting session to say that "I lost track of time when painting a bird box, my brain switched off from all other worries" and "I find when I am focused on plants, other worries disappear". Another participant told us that "I need to be investing myself into something productive and meaningful as lately I've felt like I am serving no purpose" and that the garden is enabling them to do this. 

The team has also provided support to women in particular, in relation to: 

• school uniform grants
• clothing for babies and young children
• childcare and nursery fees so that women can access training
• Christmas toys and accessing donations 
• sanitary packs and food parcels
• accessibility of sessions, including within school hours

An Aspire Wellbeing Coach also attends monthly Empower Socials for women who have been affected by Domestic Abuse to help with confidence building and motivation through wellbeing craft sessions. To tackle inequalities experienced by women, we need to continue to celebrate success, share good practice and continue to talk about barriers and how to overcome them.