13.08.03
Neighbourhood Pathways to Employment

This is a unique initiative to invest more than £750k over 2 years to help people from Penwith, Kerrier and Carrick towards training and work.
Neighbourhood Pathways to Employment (NPE), has been set up by Cornwall

Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) and builds on the success of its forerunner, Penwith Pathways. The project is part of the Jobcentre Plus Objective One ESF co-financing programme. With a budget of well over £0.75 million for the next two years, it's Jobcentre Plus's largest co-financed project.

NPE brings together employment advice and community development in some of West Cornwall's most disadvantaged areas. The programme is voluntary, and participants work at their own pace towards building their self-esteem, training, volunteering, and ultimately finding employment.

Project manager, Pam Sekula, explained: "We come out into the community to meet our clients, and help them take those first vital steps towards work. Everyone's needs are different, and everyone makes their own choices. We can help you to overcome personal or practical barriers along your individual pathway to training or employment. Individual support is provided throughout the programme and can be on going once starting work. We offer practical assistance such as grants for suitable clothes for work, and bridging funding for the period between coming off benefits and getting your first wage packet.

"Our community development team work with residents to set up local activities. Small scale training and voluntary projects can be an essential gateway to employment. We build relationships with local people in order to meet their needs.”

Michelle Maslen, district manager of Jobcentre Plus said: "I'm delighted that, as a direct result of this project, over 900 people living in Penwith and Kerrier will have access to additional individual help and support to enable them to return to work.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership added: "Objective One is investing millions of pounds across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to enable people to access new opportunities through training and education. Our investment in a range of schemes through Jobcentre Plus means the money will be targeted where it is needed most.”

From August 2003, Neighbourhood Pathways will have advisers and community development workers in the following areas:

Anyone wanting to know more can call free on 0800 328 4065.

CN4C is a tenant-led community development organisation addressing the needs and desires of social housing communities through partnership and participation. As part of the wider CN4C network, NPE works closely with other CN4C community development and regeneration projects.

Further information:
Barbara Smith, PR Adviser – 01736 786421 / 07801 947897
Pam Sekula, Programme Manager, NPE – 07971 183021
Tarn Lamb, Community Operations Director, CN4C – 01209 219246

Editor's notes:

What is Jobcentre Plus?

Jobcentre Plus was created in April 2002 when it replaced the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency. Jobcentre Plus has been set up to help more people into work, employers to fill their vacancies, and give people of working age the help and support they need if they cannot work.

What is co-financing?

Jobcentre Plus has been approved as an ESF co-financing organisation for Objective One Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly investment. Co-financing means channelling both ESF money and the necessary match funding to organisations in a single stream. We consulted at all levels of our co-financing plan and 3 main themes emerged from which tender specifications were drawn up. These were to:

For further information please contact Jacki Williams on 01726 29403.

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk

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