Skills and Confidence for Connecting Choices Participants
As part of Employability Day 2020 on Friday, 26 June, our Connecting Choices team and their partners have put together a variety of virtual activities to support participants with new skills to help them progress and build confidence.
Val Nash at Starfish and Julie Priestnall, our Engagement Manager at Connecting Choices have been busy putting together a day of action for Employability Day on Friday 26 June which includes mock interviews with partner charity We Are With You and an introduction to Horticulture from Green Angels, part of the Land Trust.
Mock Interview with Feedback for Participants – Employability Skills
Our partners We Are With You are offering our participants the opportunity of a mock-interview with feedback, hints and tips to ensure they are ready and prepared when they feel confident enough to progress. Feedback is also being provided via email so participants can further discuss with their Work Coach. Participants will also have the choice for these to be conducted on the phone or online to help combat nerves and anxiety.
Various times are available throughout the day, and participants can book their slot here.
Introduction to Horticulture with Green Angels – Employability Skills
This taster workshop is perfect for someone who:
- Is interested in learning more about the natural world.
- Enjoys practical tasks outdoors.
- Would like to learn more about how to grow, care for and nurture plants.
- Wants to attract more wildlife into their garden.
- Aspires to work in the environmental, sustainability or conservation sectors.
There are two time slots available on the day, at 10.00 and 2.00pm, participants and anyone in the area of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle-Under-Lyme can book their place here.
“It’s really great to be able to work closely with our project partners to continue to deliver support for our participants in a virtual environment. Providing activities supports progression into positive outcomes by building confidence and enabling them to believe in themselves and progress. We strive to assist those furthest from the job market, and it’s great to have partners such as Starfish and We are With You get involved in Employability Day.”
Julie Priestnall, External Engagement Manager, Connecting Choices
About Starfish
Starfish Services Ltd is one of the partners of the Stoke Connecting Choices BBO Project and offer social hubs across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and North Staffordshire. These hubs run weekly, and Connecting Choices partner organisations refer individuals who they believe need support to socialise, reduce social anxiety, improve self esteem and make friends in a safe, non-judgemental environment. Participants are supported by staff and volunteers and quickly learn that their lived experiences can be a positive thing if they use what they have learned to support their own, and others, recovery. The hubs offer social chat, games, art, knitting, creative writing, meals, solitude (for some it’s important to be separate but part of something for a while), listening ears, informal advice, practical solutions and, as so many of our participants describe it, “the social hub is the only place I go where I am allowed to just be”. To support participants who are socially isolating Ixion, our lead partner worked with the social hub team to set up a virtual platform for participants at connectingchoices.co.uk.
About We are With You
We are With You is a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
They use their expertise to deliver support and raise awareness around drugs, alcohol and mental health.
About Connecting Choices
Connecting Choices is co-funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund, and helps those furthest from the job market to break down barriers and open doors to opportunities in training, education, volunteering and work through person-centred support delivered by its excellent partners.