1. Building Better Opportunities Stafford and South Staffordshire

2. Building Better Opportunities
Project aims: This project aims to provide holistic support for disadvantaged people who are not in work within Stafford and South Staffordshire. Its focus will be on the delivery of tailored support to give those with multiple barriers to employment more chance of getting a job as part of a 'managed participant journey' to work. As such we aim to achieve a range of outcomes that reflect progression towards employment, including, for example, becoming employed, moving into education or training, entering job search, improving health, increasing self-confidence and the acquisition of work skills.

3. Building Better Opportunities
The project started in January 2017 and will run until December It aims to help those who experience multiple barriers to work in finding a job or in being better placed to look for work.
The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund, who have awarded £2.3m to Business Enterprise Support (BES), who will work with 16 partners across the south of the county.

4. Building Better Opportunities
The three year project will focus on key groups who typically find they have multiple problems to overcome in finding suitable employment.
These are:
People aged over 50
Lone parents
Those with low skills or qualifications
People with long-term health condition or disability
Those from an ethnic minority group
Those living in ‘low employment demand’ areas
Those who experience more than one of the following; homelessness, substance misuse, history of offending and mental ill-health.

5. Building Better Opportunities
The project will tackle the barriers that prevent these groups of people from accessing support with more opportunities for education and training, improved health and wellbeing services, better financial help and new programmes to build people’s confidence. Support will be provided to help people build self-confidence and develop or acquire new skills in key areas where they might be experiencing difficulties.

6. Building Better Opportunities
Work skills - gaining of key skills e.g. team working, problem solving, numeracy, IT and communication skills.
Attitudinal skills - increased levels of motivation, confidence, feelings of responsibility, levels of self-esteem and higher personal and career aspirations.
Personal skills - improved timekeeping, personal hygiene, greater levels of self-awareness, better health and fitness, greater levels of concentration and engagement.
Practical skills - ability to complete forms, ability to write a CV, improved ability to manage money and improved awareness of rights and responsibilities.

7. Building Better Opportunities
Stafford Work Clubs
Stafford Library Monday 10am till 12 noon
Holmcroft Library Monday 2pm till 4pm
Rising Brook Library Tuesday 2pm till 4pm
Doxey Church Dropin Wednesday Once a month 1pm till 3.30pm

8. Building Better Opportunities
Referral and Contact Information
Telephone: