BME Women into Jobs project

The O-Regen BME Women into Jobs project has already made a positive impact for over 40 unemployed BME women in Waltham Forest, Hackney and Haringey. It provides ESOL/Literacy courses; ICT support; Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG), along with Job brokerage services and financial support for economically inactive BME women.

Support is tailored to the needs of individuals which has resulted in almost 100% achievement of outcomes including qualifications and jobs/further progression. This holistic programme of support has been particularly essential, since college courses tend to be over-subscibed, with scheduled intakes and without the flexibility to allow roll-on roll-off admissions, or provide the level of individual employment support required by some participants.

One particular female participant of Turkish background had been waiting for a similar course for over 6 months and was amazed to hear that she could begin almost immediately. We explained that not only would we work with her on her English levels, but would also support her to learn the basics of using a computer as well as provide employment support to her on an individual level. She was very impressed and recommended the course to her other friends in a similar situation. Since commencing the course her feedback has been very encouraging. She has started to go out more on her own to deal with things like paying her bills and shopping. In addition to gaining an ESOL qualification, her level of personal confidence has grown and she feels more independent.

Another participant was referred by The Learning Trust to our programme at the Haggerston Community Centre in Hackney. She had not been accepted on other ESOL courses because she had a small child and crèche facilities were not available or limited. The participant had a hearing impairment and other learning needs, which apparently, had never been adequately addressed. She had lived in the UK for eight years, since she was 14, and initially attended a local secondary school. ‘I came to London alone’, she explained. ‘I have no family here, just me and my baby. My mother and father are in Ghana.’ Her attendance at the course had been exemplary. Her daughter was happy to spend time within the crèche facility and during this time she had already started to get into the routine of regular a