The Community Connectors have continued with sending regular weekly emails to women they are supporting. This has included monthly Kindness and Resilience calendars, which suggest positive activities to help with wellbeing at this time. They also continue to offer 1-2-1 support over the phone. This involves signposting to relevant agencies, sourcing suitable opportunities and assisting with completing online applications for ladies who do not have access to the internet.
Community Connectors have started to create their own individual weekly newsletter, which is tailored to the needs of the Community Connectors Caseload. The newsletter consists of current vacancies for sectors women are most commonly looking to work in. They have also included vacancies with Disability Confident Employers and an explanation of what the Disability Confident badge means. Other features include current training opportunities and useful links such as Walsall Family Information Service. This will be a working document and will include current volunteering and work experience opportunities.
Below is a positive story about one of the women on the programme that recently found work.
Lauren's Story
Lauren was a customer at Brownhills Job Centre. She was referred to the Community Connectors in October last year and signed up to the Walsall for All Programme for support to move forward into employment. Lauren was referred for work experience through Movement to Work with Bayard House Job Centre in March, in order to build upon her administration skills and gain the confidence of working in an office environment. During this placement, Lauren carried out a range of administration duties, created weekly recruitment news to be shared with colleagues and assisted with the preparation and delivery of a jobs fair.
Lauren was then put forward for the Administration Officer recruitment for DWP. She was successful and started the role at Bayard House Jobcentre in June.
It is great news for the Walsall for All project, DWP Movement to Work and for Lauren to further her career in administration.
How to get in touch with DWP Community Connectors
You can still get in touch with the DWP Community Connectors if you need help and support with:
Learning, training and employment opportunities.
Improve confidence and self-belief.
Make positive lifestyle changes.
Benefit advice.
Childcare options and much more.
If you would like to find out more, please email the team at walsall.communityconnectors@dwp.gov.uk