What is Job Base?

 

Job Base is a new youth work mentoring project for young unemployed people aged 18-24, providing education and support to young people that lack the skills and confidence needed to access employment. The focus of the project is to work with young people to develop a bespoke mentoring package in which participants  can identify the help and support they require and the key outcomes they would like to achieve to enable them to become job ready. 

 

At Job Base participants will be able to access one to one support from Youth Workers, join in group work sessions learning employment skills such as communication, time keeping, self presentation, CV writing etc and access Job Centre Advisors who will visit Base 33 and educate young people on how to identify job vacancies and advise on current opportunities.

 

We understand from experience that unemployment is just one of several issues that the young people we work with are experiencing, and that housing needs, family problems and lack of skills have an effect on health. Young people experiencing low self-esteem, lack of confidence and chaotic lifestyles are less likely to find and maintain employment.

 

This project will improve young people’s capacity to be ready for, and find employment by providing a holistic approach focusing on social issues as well providing opportunities for skills development.

 

Two job centre advisors will act as ‘key workers’ on the project. They will visit Job Base and to improve people’s access to their service become a single point of contact both at Base 33 and the Job Centre. At Base 33 we already work in partnership and signpost to a variety of agencies including West Oxfordshire District Council, Connexions and Young Addaction. This project will also involve our existing partners as appropriate.

 

 

 

Project structure

 

Job Base will run in 8 week blocks on a Tuesday 11am – 4pm, culminating in a Recruitment Day. Spaces will be available for up to 15 participants.

 

Block one

Tuesday 10th May – 28th June

July 5th – Recruitment Day

 

Block two

September 27th – Nov 22nd

Nov 30th – Recruitment Day

 

Block three

Jan 17th – March 20th

March 27th – Recruitment Day

 

 

Project Outcomes      

 

Up to 45 young people will

 

  • Have gained practical advice and support and improved their chances of finding work.
  • Have gained support & confidence to overcome their barriers to employment
  • Be job ready and actively seeking employment/training or further education opportunities
  • Have a better understanding of what services are available to them locally and feel able to access them independently
  • Have improved self esteem and sense of well being

 

 

Review of first Job Base project (started May 2011)

 

We have successfully completed the first block of JobBase, the project started a week later than anticipated due to a delay in the installation of our new computer.

The first block from Tuesday 17th to July 19th.

 

The project was staffed by 3 members of Base 33 and was visited by Job Centre Advisors on alternate weeks. We also had Connexions Advisors on site for four sessions, West Oxfordshire District Council’s, ‘Supported Housing Advisor’ for 3 sessions and Connections Floating Support Service for 1 session.

 

We have set an overall milestone of working with up to 45 young people over the course of the entire project ( x 3 eight week blocks over a year) and worked with 23 young people in this first block, exceeding our target of 15 per block.  

 

The objective of the project is to improve young people’s capacity to be ready for, and find employment by providing education and support to young people that lack the skills and confidence needed to access employment, further education and training opportunities.

 

Our outcomes are as follows

 

  • Four young women aged 16-17 are to attend an assessment day for a place on a Health & Social Care Apprenticeship in early August.
  • One young man aged 17 secured a place on an apprenticeship as a Gardener.
  • One young man has become employed as a Labourer.
  • One young women has been accepted on a Level 2 Football Course at Oxford and Cherwell College
  • Three young men gained employment with a Marquee company
  • One young women has gained a place on a BTEC in Mechanics at Oxford and Cherwell College
  • One young women has been accepted on a Degree for Adult Learning in Law at Ruskin University
  • Two young people have applied for F/E courses
  • Three young men have had their first job interviews (not yet known if they gained employment)

 

 

 

On the first week of the project it became clear that we needed to run JobBase as a drop-in project, initially we structured the block and planned to work with the same group over a period of weeks. However, it became apparent from the start that the participants were all different stages and required varied interventions.   

 

Participants were asked to complete a referral form (example included) and sign up to JobBase, they could then book appointments with Job Centre Advisors or Youth Workers if they required specific help or just drop-in on a Tuesday for support. This gave flexibility to the project that enabled young people to take things at their own pace.  Twenty one young people completed referral forms.

 

Another important aspect of this project was partnership working, particularly with Witney Job Centre. Having Job Centre Advisors on site was important to us as consultation with young people had suggested that they feel insecure about approaching them for advice and unable to express themselves in an open and honest way.

 

Working in this way has been interesting and took a few weeks to become established. In the first few weeks it was apparent that the professionals involved were also benefiting from learning what each agency did and how they worked with young people!

 

If you would like to find out more about Job Base please contact Claire either via e-mail Claire@base33.org or call 01993 777870