Enable to Build Better Opportunities

Enable, Shropshire Council’s supported employment service, have been awarded a grant to help vulnerable people into employment through the Building Better Opportunities (BBO) programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.

Enable has over 20 years’ experience in sector, demonstrating a consistent track record of helping clients to find a career path that suits their interests and skills through providing support to people in their efforts to achieve steady employment in mainstream competitive jobs.

The project aims to support socially excluded and under-represented groups, furthest from the job market in the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin areas aged 19 plus. This is carried out through processes that address the barriers to the individual’s participation in activities that improve their economic well-being and ultimately provide sustainable routes towards employment and away from poverty.

There are many barriers that these individuals tend to face when moving towards employment. These are varied between each person and can include caring responsibilities; stigma and a lack of awareness around the needs of people with a disability; cultural and language barriers; and digital exclusion – many people are unable to apply for work online due to a lack of internet and/or IT skills; as well as inter-generational unemployment. Enable is equipped to deal with each and every one of these issues.

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Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said:-

“I am delighted that Enable have been awarded this grant to help vulnerable people into employment. Through their targeted and individualised approach, Enable’s team of experts ensure that each client has a journey towards a work plan that aligns with their immediate needs as well as their interests.”

The services delivered through this project involve different activities. Clients will receive personalised, flexible support, tailored to help them build their confidence, knowledge and skills in order to move towards employment. There will be a focus on building skills, learning and training activities, including literacy, numeracy and digital skills. Enable can also signpost clients to services that advise on issues such as housing, money, debt, employment contracts and tax, to address the root causes of unemployment. The journey towards work can involve work placement options and/or peer support to develop confidence, self-esteem and help participants overcome more complex barriers.

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If you would like any more information on this or any other of Enable’s services, contact them on 01743 276900 or enable@shropshire.gov.uk or visit shropshire.gov.uk/enable

Further information

Big Lottery Fund

• The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.
• It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Every year it invests over £650 million and awards around 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
• Since June 2004 it has awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.
• The project received £80,000 per annum of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations.