Helping people to turn over a “New Leaf”

EMPLOYMENT support programme New Leaf is celebrating after helping more than 50 people in and around Warrington move closer to getting a job.
More than 25 organisations make up New Leaf, including Golden Gates Housing Trust, Warrington Disability Trust, Warrington Youth Club and Warrington Borough Council.
Working together, the partnership helps its participants to overcome barriers to employment and get them closer to paid work. This includes access to free training, support with their mental health and help to find meaningful volunteer opportunities and work placements.
Surrounded by friends and family, as well as their New Leaf mentors, participants shared how their lives have changed since joining the programme. For some, who not that long ago couldn’t leave their homes due to anxiety, this was a massive achievement.
After years of dealing with substance misuse, Craig Goodhand, known as Wiggy, was looking to restart his life in a career he was passionate about –working on the railway Working with his mentor from Acorn Recovery, he was able to get onto a personal track safety course, organised by Golden Gates Housing and has now managed to get his dream job.
Wiggy said,:”For the last 15 years I’ve just been a mess. Now I have a real career”
Not only did participants share their stories, they also listened to music from fellow New Leaf participant, Kerry Sheree, who is now helping school children to tackle their anxieties through the art of music as well as providing vocal training.
Andy Rawlins, New Leaf programme manager said, “It’s great to be able to get some of our past participants together to see how far they have come. Everyone who works on New Leaf cares deeply about helping people who may have been previously overlooked by traditional forms of employment support. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear first-hand accounts of how life-changing being part of the New Leaf programme has been for people.”
If you, or someone you know, needs support getting back into work get in touch with New Leaf. at www.newleafcheshire.co.uk or by emailing [email protected]
New Leaf, part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and The National Lottery Community Fund the largest funder of community activity in the UK.