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Wheel solutions to employment scheme helps people into work
A Coast & Country-backed initiative is making inroads in helping people find work.
Wheel Solutions to Employment has helped people secure apprenticeships as well as providing work placements.
Under the scheme, people in the Grangetown area volunteered to become involved in environmental projects to transform untidy waste grounds into pleasant community areas.
As a reward for this work, they received a series of cut-price driving lessons and a free provisional licence, theory test and driving test.
Another element of the project, spearheaded by the Future Regeneration of Grangetown (FROG) group, is an eight week employability course, helping people expand their skills base, followed by a 12 week work placement.
Of the 16 young people and adults who signed up to Wheel Solutions to Employment in January, seven are now doing apprenticeships and others have found placements in a range of sectors including leisure, community care, retail and business administration.
All of those taking part have also passed their driving theory test.
Iain Sim, Chief Executive said: “Wheel Solutions to Employment is an innovative way of inspiring, motivating and encouraging people to equip themselves with a range of skills that will help them find employment.
“There is a double positive in that we get environmental schemes done, which is a big boost for the community, and the volunteers get access to driving lessons, which are really important when people are looking for work.
“Coast & Country is really proud to be involved in an initiative that has proved such a success with nearly half those taking part now on apprenticeships and the others gaining valuable experience on job placements.”
The volunteers loved sprucing up the open spaces so much they have become involved in further work to improve the area which has involved 70 gardens, fence painting and flower baskets.
Volunteer June Williams said: “We all enjoyed doing the environmental work so much that we decided to carry on and go forward to see what more we could do in the community.”
The Wheel Solution to Employment initiative is made up of two schemes – one focusing on environmental improvements involving 30 volunteers and a learning programme to which 16 people have signed up.
Lynn Pallister, FROG Wheels Project Co-ordinator, said: The Wheel Solutions Environmental Project has been an excellent example of grass roots partnership work with local housing associations Coast & Country, Accent, Tees Valley and the council’s area environmental team to engage local people to improve their community.
“It has been a Win Win project for everyone - all 30 volunteers will receive 25 subsidised driving lessons at £5 a lesson, one free theory/driving test and a provisional licence that will help remove barriers to employment, the wider community have seen fantastic improvements to community spaces/streets and all partners have had an opportunity to strengthen relationships with local residents.”
Carol Moon, of FROG, said: “The environmental work has benefited the community because they took derelict areas of land, which had been subject to anti social behaviour, and residents worked on them to turn them into green areas that they can all enjoy.”
Other agencies involved in Wheel Solutions to Employment are Tees Valley Housing, Accent and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
