European Social Fund in England

Leap into work

An exciting initiative is helping unemployed people aged 16 to 64 into employment priority areas.

The Learning & Employment Action Package (LEAP) project benefits people from Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme who are unemployed through sickness or disability and find it difficult to get work.

Stoke-on-Trent has seen a decline in its traditional industries like ceramics manufacture, mining and steel works and the number of people employed in these sectors has vastly reduced.

Kelly Royals, 19, gained her first 'real' job at Newcastle-under-Lyme Play Council after help from LEAP.

The project helped Kelly with application forms and transport costs and gave her advice on how to deal with interviews. She now works at the play council, a charity-led project which provides crèches, out of school clubs and play schemes. It has an all inclusive policy providing child care for mainstream and special needs children.

Kelly said, "Support from LEAP helped me overcome many barriers and get into work. I'm now getting experience that will really help my career."

Project manager Sarah Miller added, "We have a team of job mentors who provide one-to-one ongoing support, careers guidance, job tasters, help with travel and childcare costs and links to other initiatives. Offering job tasters is a great way of allowing people to try a job for up to two weeks."

Since starting in April 2005 LEAP has engaged with more than 450 beneficiaries, supporting many into full and part-time work, job tasters, training opportunities and voluntary work. Participants have found jobs in a variety of fields including retail, care work and warehouse/packing. The project ends in December 2007.

Want to know more? E-mail: sarah.miller@cxstaffs.co.uk