Housing Trust help deliver the gift of a new jobs

WARRINGTON based Golden Gates Housing Trust’s (GGHT) Employment Team have been helping to deliver the gift of a new job in time for Christmas, after successfully supporting 42 of its residents into work during the month of November.
The success comes with Christmas just around the corner, where many jobs tend to be temporary. However, at least 80% of the roles secured are permanent positions.
The jobs secured have all been filled by GGHT residents or other local residents living in Bewsey & Dallam, building on the success of the Trust’s recent Jobs Fair. The 42 new jobs are with a wide range of employers from across Warrington and the surrounding area, including small local employers such as Hesketh Plastering, Lunch Co and Bridgewater High School and large national companies such as Tesco, NEXT and Pets at Home.
Three of the jobs secured where filled by residents who have completed GGHT’s ‘1st Steps to Trade’ pre-employment course. The course offers a range of free qualifications including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Manual Handling, First Aid, Working at Heights and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). So far 34 residents have successfully completed the course, with 11 finding employment and a further 6 accessing Work Placements at GGHT to boost their CV’s. The team are well on track to support 48 residents through the course by the end of March.
All of the job roles have been promoted by GGHT’s Employment Initiatives Team through its weekly job clubs across the town, community based jobs fairs and on social media. Since 2012 the team has helped over 400 of its tenants and their family members into employment, as well as providing additional access to training and volunteering opportunities. They remain on target to have supported up to 450 local residents into employment by the end of March 2015.
The Trust and its partner Warrington Borough Council also offer a Wage Incentive Scheme. Launched in 2013, the Scheme offers local voluntary sector organisations and small/medium sized employers a package of between £3,000 and £5,000 to provide apprenticeships and jobs with training. GGHT’s Employment Team are also able to offer those taking part free recruitment services and in work support to ensure companies gain the right employee for their business needs.
GGHT resident and Positive Change member, Helen Powell from Sankey, said: “I’d like to say thanks to my advisor and the whole Employment Team, who pushed and persevered with me. Having a daughter of school age, it’s hard to find the right job with enough flexibility, but the team worked hard to meet my needs.”
GGHT Chair, Roy Smith said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to support such a high number of residents into employment, especially with Christmas just around the corner. Our Employment Initiatives team have done a remarkable job and I look forward to seeing them achieving their target of supporting 450 residents into employment early next year.”
Anyone who lives in one of the Trust’s properties and would like additional support getting into employment, training or volunteering can register on Positive Change. If you’re a small or medium size business and want to benefit from the wage incentive scheme then contact GGHT’s Positive Change initiative by visiting www.gght.org.uk/positivechange, calling 0800 25 26 27 and asking to speak to the Employment Team or alternatively follow the team on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gghtpositivechange or on Twitter @GGjobs_GGHTrust.
GGHT has also produced two short films promoting the Trust’s work around employment. The films can be viewed on the Trusts YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/GGHTrust.
Picture: Christmas Cheer for GGHT’s Employment Initiatives Team celebrating their success of supporting 42 residents into work during the month of November.