Job Club's holistic approach is helping to remove barriers to employment
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GIVING a hand up rather than a hand out is the aim of an employment scheme running in Buckie and across the north-east.
Over the last year or so Buckie's Salvation Army hall on New Street has played host to weekly drop-in Job Club sessions, part of the organisation's Employment Plus scheme.
For Salvation Army Employment Development Co-ordinator Cara Kennie it is one venue on a huge patch stretching from Elgin right through to Peterhead.
However, this service is not simply about punting vacancies the way of jobseekers, there is a 'whole person' approach to the Job Clubs Cara believes is essential to providing lasting and meaningful help to people, some of whom are at a very low ebb.
Cara said: "The Salvation Army motto is 'A hand up rather than a hand out' and that is at the heart of what is Employment Plus is trying to do.
"It's fully funded by the Salvation Army and works with a range of partner agencies as needed.
"It's open to anyone and we use a holistic approach in trying to help people as everyone is different and has individual needs.
"When someone first comes to us we do an initial pathway assessment to find their barriers to employment, and then they are placed on either wellbeing and life skills, training, employment, or in work support. Many have barriers which need to be addressed.
"For example, someone might not have a job but they could also be homeless so I'd look at helping them sort out somewhere to live. If they have no money then I'd look at what benefits they could claim and, if necessary, an emergency food parcel.
"You have to get people's wellbeing sorted first before you try and help them get a job or training. They need to be in the right place before they can go and get a job. It's a holistic, wraparound service and they can be with us for as long as they need, whether that's weeks or months. It could involve something as simple as creating a CV or helping with social skills to far more complex issues.
"Another important part of this is supporting people once they're in work as or if needed. This could be ensuring their employer is making reasonable adjustments, for example if they have disabilities.
"It's not just about helping people get themselves a job, it's about helping them keep it once they're there.
"Employment Plus is also there for people who are in work but maybe need some help with a new CV or a covering letter for a job application."
Cara noted that people came to the service in a number of ways, including being referred from their Job Centre. However, self-referral and simply dropping by one of the sessions were also methods which were more than welcome.
The Job Club sessions also offer laptops which people can use as they embark on their journey into work, with help available for the likes of IT skills. This is essential to claim many benefits, a process which has to be done online.
Cara said: "We do an SCVO assessment on people who come to the Job Club needing help with digital skills.
"It’s a way of tailoring their learning and assessing what knowledge they have of using a digital device. We don’t supply devices to them, but they can use the ones provided at the Job Club."
The Employment Plus service, Cara states, is very much here to stay and she is currently examining ways in which it could be expanded.
She continued: "It's a very much-needed service and I've got waiting lists across the area I cover.
"There isn't another service which does everything Employment Plus does and hopefully I'll be expanding what's on offer with the introduction of group sessions.
"Looking ahead, I anticipate that the need for this service will increase this year.
"It's a very satisfying role, I really enjoy it – I'm an empathetic kind of person and am very positive about people.
"Like I said before, this isn't just a jobs service, it's far more holistic, it's about each individual and their needs.
"If you can remove the barriers then you can free the person. It just needs the care and the time.
"The difference it can make to a person's life can be profound."
The Job Club sessions run every Wednesday at the hall from 11am to 3pm. For more information about the Employment Plus scheme, contact Cara on Cara.Kennie@salvationarmy.org.uk or phone her on 07551 855719. They are free and confidential.
Alongside her Job Club sessions Cara has been very busy at the Buckie Salvation Army hall.
Tuesdays from 11am to 2.30pm sees a food larder running. No referrals are necessary to access this service and users pay an annual registration fee of £3 plus a weekly sum of £2.50 which entitles them to a generous food package.
For those struggling to heat their homes as energy prices soar, or who simply want to meet other folk for a blether and a cuppa, the hall hosts a warm bank on Wednesdays, starting at 11am and running through to 3pm. Hot food and snacks are also available free of charge.
