How we are Helping to Tackle Worklessness

Over 70% of our Tenants are out of work and benefit dependent and we are committed to doing all we can to maximise their opportunities to gain employment.

During 2008 we have:

• Surveyed our Tenants to establish their needs, established groups in supported housing who are working with us on improving their life skills and employment prospects.
• Worked with West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust to bid for Working Neighbourhoods Funding to fund projects which would benefit our Tenants.
• Developed an Enterprise fund LINK to assist tenants back into the workplace, providing financial assistance and support to those on low incomes
• Offered Year 11 students work placements and engaged with The Shaw Trust to provide placements for disabled people seeking to return to work
• Launched a Group wide policy to assist tenants to gain access to mainstream financial systems. This includes low cost home insurance and better information of the Helping Hands Savings and Loans Scheme. This directly benefits tenants through insurance protection at low weekly rates and low cost savings and loans through the Darlington Building Society.
• Trained all our frontline staff re financial inclusion and our approach to enable them to assist tenants by providing advice and support.
• Trained Tenants in Mystery Shopping which develops a range of skills which will help with employment prospects.

Throughout Supported Housing we recognise that there are many factors that influence where a person sits on the spectrum of being work- ready. Some just need a little support to take the final steps toward this and employment or training will be identified in the support plans, while others may have to address issues at a very basic level. This is reflected in support plans where realistic goals are broken down to achievable steps. E.g. The medium term goal may be to attend training but before that, the short-term goal may be to improve personal hygiene as bad hygiene had caused problems for the young person is accepted by peers and losing confidence after name calling.

Some examples of good outcomes are: -

Tenant 1 is currently doing car mechanics course at Middlesbrough College and Hairdressing course at the Neptune Centre. She is due to begin a self awareness course via Surestart very soon. She is interested in doing some paid work and is undergoing a back to work assessment

Tenant 2 has started a course at Middlesbrough College for Maths and English. She also does voluntary work at St Lukes Hospital a couple of days a week. She is interested in joining EHA newsletter panel and is awaiting a referral made to go on an anxiety management course.

Tenant 3 has started voluntary work in Barnardos charity shop; she attends TAP meetings as well as being involved in various focus groups and the newsletter.

To obtain more information in relation to our work and the outcomes our tenants have achieved please download our Worklessness Achievements document.

Click here to download the Worklessness Achievements document in Portable Document Format (PDF).

To open and read pdf format documents you will need acrobat reader software.

Click here to download and install this free software if required.

Enterprise Fund

Endeavour Housing Associations Enterprise Fund
“Rewarding endeavour”

Purpose of Fund

To assist in legitimate and verified costs associated with starting/ seeking education, employment or training.

To provide funding when all other avenues have been exhausted

To support people who are genuinely accessing training, education or employment.

Who is eligible?

Our Tenants and Service Users

Only Tenants and Service Users who have been conducting their tenancy and/or meeting their support plan in a consistent and positive way will be considered for an award. However we can give due consideration to all mitigating circumstances

Funding Available

Annual Budget of £2,000

Maximum award of £300

We will provide a one of award of funding, no ongoing funding commitment can be offered.

Consideration of requests

Awards will be considered and monitored by The Worklesness Initiatives Group and a quarterly monitoring report will be produced.

Applicants must evidence the legitimate expense that they need help with
Awards will not be paid in cash. We will pay awards via a gift voucher, a cheque made out to a supplier or by us paying an invoice direct.

Once a request has been received the worklessness group will meet within a week to make a decision. (At least 3 members of the group must be present)

Prior to making a decision we will seek confirmation of the applicants conduct via their Housing Officer/Supported Housing

All requests and decisions will be logged and we will contact the applicant direct with the outcome and inform the housing officer/support worker.

All funding will be offered on the basis that the applicant supplies formal receipts against any spend,  agrees to us keeping in touch re their progress and we would encourage them to allow us to share any good news stories in press articles

What can we fund?

We include the following as a guide. It is not intended to be prescriptive

• Help with Living Costs if someone starts work and works a week or month in hand
• Travel expenses before first wages or training allowances are received
• Equipment such as a laptop to help someone with college or equipment for trainee hairdressers
• Books etc needed for college or training
• The purchase of clothes suitable for an interview
• Funding for training
• Childcare costs

Publicity

We will promote the fund and its criteria through:

• The website
• Local Press
• Tenants Newsletter
• Staff Newsletter
• A leaflet included within each sign up pack

How to make an application

Applications can be made in the following ways:

• In writing
• By e mail via a Housing or Support Officer
• By telephone 
• Home Visit

As previously outline we will need details of the following:

• What funding is requested?
• What item is the funding for?
• How will this assist the applicant in securing/attending training/employment
• Evidence of the expense to be incurred (i.e. a receipt or quote)
• What other funding channels have been explored