Despite these difficulties, Ian showed unwavering dedication. He attended the office every day, taking part in employability activities and making the most of every workshop available, including ‘Changing your Mind Set’ and ‘Bouncing Back from a Challenge’. Determined to turn his life around, he engaged fully with the support offered and made incredible progress – including becoming alcohol-free.

Alongside helping Ian secure stable housing, we also provided interview clothes, work attire, food bank vouchers, and travel support to attend job interviews. Step by step, Ian took every opportunity to rebuild his confidence and independence, and has now moved into a home of his own.

With secure housing in place and a renewed mindset, Ian is now preparing to return to employment, ready to build a brighter future.

Reflecting on his journey, he said: “Fedcap has been amazing and has helped me so much. Last year was one of the worst times of my life, but Fedcap helped me get through the bad times, especially my adviser Jandre – he helped change my mindset and put me on the right path.

“I don’t think I would be here now without Jandre and Fedcap.”

The post Ian’s Determination Leads to a Fresh Start appeared first on Fedcap Employment.

Breaking Down Stephen’s Barriers.

North West man Stephen Essex is back in work for the first time in years after being supported to overcome his barriers by our Fedcap Team in Burnley.

Why Stephen joined the Restart Scheme.

Stephen had been unemployed following a difficult period in his life, including turning to drugs to try and escape his problems.

Having overcome these issues, Stephen was in a place to work towards turning his life around, and to find meaningful employment.

Why Stephen joined the Restart Scheme.

Stephen initially felt uneasy in a new environment, but soon established common ground with his Employment Adviser, Holly Sloane, and he started to open up about his past.

Recognising the progress he was making by visiting the office, engaging with the Restart Scheme and being receptive to receiving support, Stephen started to think about the future.

Working closely with Holly every step of the way, Stephen grew in leaps and bounds with help and support from the Restart Scheme.

He started with an improved CV and worked on techniques to build his self-confidence, before embarking on his job searching journey.

How Fedcap helped.

Stephen had previously worked in the warehousing and production industry, and he was keen to utilise his transferrable skills in a new job However, due to financial circumstances, Stephen could not afford to purchase interview clothing – until we stepped in to reimburse costs for a new pair of shoes, shirt, trousers and safety work boots! All attire was impressive for potential employers and Stephen bloomed optimism!

Looking the part, Stephen’s confidence grew and he was determined to land employment!

Within a few weeks, the new-found confidence and support received paid off with Stephen being offered a full-time Warehouse Operative role in Burnley.

His Employment Advisor, Holly said:

“Stephen is a credit to himself and to The Fedcap Group. He has a bright future ahead. I believe that through his sheer determination, patience and self-belief, he will inspire others to embark on their journey to secure suitable employment with guidance, support and positivity from The Fedcap Group, Burnley.

He was such a pleasure to work with and I wish him the best of luck in his new role!”

How Fedcap helped with Stephen’s progression.

Fedcap Employment funded Stephen’s Fork Lift Truck driving course, to ensure that Stephen reached the position he desired in his working life.

The post The only way is Essex. Stephen Essex. appeared first on Fedcap Employment.

Why Daniel joined the Restart Scheme

Daniel, 44, was referred to the Restart Scheme by his Jobcentre Plus Work Coach. Although he has a high standard of education, a good work history and is well-motivated, Daniel found himself out of work for many years due to personal reasons. He was previously a hospitality manager, but a turn of bad luck meant he lost his home and became homeless for six years.

He said: “Being quite a proud man, it took a lot for me to ask for help. As you can imagine there were a number of barriers I had to overcome – the stigma of having been homeless and the unconscious bias of potential employers, the personal confidence having been out of employment for so long, as well as the practical support to modernise my approach to job searching.”

How Fedcap helped

Daniel was partnered with Employment Adviser, Kyle who he met with every two weeks. They immediately got to work on addressing his confidence issues through positively reinforcing his past employment achievements. They also worked on improving his CV and started to look at tailored job searching.

And looking at improving his skills set, Daniel took part in a number of courses to help him identify his strengths better as well as to improve the way he communicates to potential employers. He also engaged with our online Fedcap Hub, which is full of resources to help people look for work.

He said: “The courses run by my tutor Leigh were invaluable. They are informative, collaborative and Leigh is probably one of the best motivators I have met,” while adding “knowing there is wellbeing support available has also been reassuring, both considering my lived experience but also in case I had received multiple knockbacks from employers.”

Getting the job

Having gone through some tough times himself, Daniel is now helping other people who may find themselves in similar situations. He is now an Apprentice Assessment and Reconnection Officer at St Mungo’s – moving into a sector he really wanted to work in.

He said: “Having left rough sleeping to having my own house again to fitting the final piece of the jigsaw of rebuilding my life by returning to work, all in one year, feels amazing. Fedcap and the Restart Scheme have been integral in allowing me to fulfil my potential and get to this point.

“I would not have achieved what I have as quickly without participating in this programme. The coaches have been knowledgeable, supporting, empathetic, flexible and centred on me as a person not just getting me into a job.”

The post New job is ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ for Daniel appeared first on Fedcap Employment.