Recently, Offploy’s team of volunteers and Social Employment Advisors (SEAs) have been taking part in community outreach in Hull. Funded by Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) and in partnership with the National Probation Service (NPS), we have been working to support residents of H M Bail Hostel on Queens Road, typically people who are further from employment, with the skills needed to find work.
Leah and Mandy, our SEAs, have been visiting the hostel frequently to assist with CV and disclosure letter writing and then helping residents to seek out training courses which will help them to develop their skills in their preferred industry and find work experience to gain skills and develop their understanding of the world of work. So far, this ongoing perseverance, hard work and multi-agency approach has resulted in the employment of two previous residents.
Our team found that many residents faced barriers into employment outside of their conviction and therefore, aside from helping with employability skills, they offered general support around wellbeing, increasing confidence, and informing them of the local area if they were not from Hull as many found the new surroundings to be daunting in addition to the worries brought on by trying to find employment with their conviction.
‘’The staff create a real sense of community, they are exceptionally welcoming. They organise events and day trips for the residents and encourage them to engage with us. We are welcome at their weekly meetings on a Tuesday, which helps them get to know us and what we do. We appreciate the opportunity from the staff to allow us to communicate with the residents and be able to offer our support and mentoring services.’’ Mandy, SEA.
Offploy’s goal is to support people with criminal convictions into meaningful, mentored and sustainable employment. Having the opportunity to offer additional support to candidates in the community whilst reducing re-offending makes it all worthwhile. That to Offploy, is success.
Thanks to the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) and Hull City Council's Community Led Local Development for enabling us to support people with criminal convictions into employment and make society safer.
