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Chances for Work and Chances: Healthy Living
Chances provide personalised support to people living across Norfolk, to move them either into or closer to work. Chances are funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).
- Chances for Work supports those who face barriers to entering the workplace.
- Chances: Healthy Living supports those who may require intensive support to overcome complex social, economic and health related barriers to entering the workplace.
The project has a total budget of £4.9 million (of which £2.5M is funded by the European Social Fund).
How it works
Working with a number of experienced professionals and Advocates we will provide bespoke 1-to-1 support and help participants overcome barriers to engagement, employment or education.
Advocates ensure participants are supported to engage with planned activity and are making progress against agreed milestones.
Advocates will:
- Develop a Personal Action Plan to establish support required, skills gaps or training needs, as well as other important activity eg, work experience, volunteering, debt management, etc.
- Build in milestones for obtaining basic skills qualifications for participants who don’t already hold those qualifications
- Provide support in accessing services for those with physical or learning disabilities – this may include additional support from the project’s integrated Mental Health Specialist or Disability Support Specialist
- Assist with health condition management and personal well-being
- Identify opportunities to improve participants soft skills including confidence, motivation, resilience, well-being and active living by engagement with sports and participation activities
- Assist with overcoming practical barriers to attending training, work experience and interviews, e.g. considering transport solutions and route planning, as well as childcare needs
Who it's for
Chances aims to support individuals with various and different needs. The project team will work with long term unemployed people and those who have become unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Inactive and distant from the labour market
- Over 50 years of age
- From an ethnic minority group
- With a disability or health condition (either physical or mental)
- People without basic skills
- Lone parents’
Participants will be supported to make informed choices about career opportunities, be helped to identify the type of occupation that best suits their skills and preferences and be supported in their job search, interview prep and once ready, begin engaging more actively with the world of work.
Mental Health and Disability Support Specialists will be available to ensure that participants receive targeted support to address issues with access and participation where necessary.
Advocates may broker opportunities with employers and where necessary, remain engaged with participants, supporting them into work. As the participant adapts to the workplace and gains confidence to work independently, support would gradually wind down. Both participants and employers will benefit from the support in managing health related issues which might emerge improving the likelihood of participants sustaining employment.
How to get involved
Local Authorities, GPs, Housing Associations and the Department of Work and Pension (DWP) can refer participants to the scheme. You can also refer yourself. Our team of advocates will be up and running by mid-April 2021.
In the meantime, for more information about how to participate, contact us at chances@norfolk.gov.uk or call us on 01603 228929. Normal telephone operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
