CHARITY
PICTURE : STUART BOULTON
Training – Former joiner Tom Cawley has been able to access specialist courses since joining the programme .
STEP TO IT !
Step Forward Tees Valley ’ s mission to help people back into work
I t ’ s been widely reported across the media that many older workers have been leaving the workforce since the onset of the pandemic .
According to a recent article in Forbes magazine , around 300,000 workers between the ages of 50 and 65 have become classed as economically inactive since Covid began .
This significant reduction in older workers has had a negative effect on businesses across the North-East .
Tees Valley Combined Authority figures show that almost 40 per cent of employers are experiencing a shortage of workers , which has a direct effect on their ability to meet demand . Getting people over the age of 50 back into work can go some way to filling that gap .
Step Forward Tees Valley is a partnership led by Humankind Charity , funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund , and has a proven track record of supporting people back into work and training .
Since 2016 , the programme has supported more than 1,100 people over the age of 50 back into work or training in the Tees Valley area , helping them overcome barriers such as mental and physical health , substance and alcohol use , lack of skills and digital skills , financial issues and more .
This support has the effect of stimulating the local economy , as well as reducing reliance on state benefits .
In terms of social value , the work done by Step Forward Tees Valley since 2016 has proven to be economically significant .
By helping people over the age of 50 to overcome mental health barriers alone , the benefit to the wider economy is valued at approximately £ 1.5m .
By supporting individuals to overcome other barriers , the estimated social value of Step Forward Tees Valley climbs to over £ 9m .
Tom Cawley , aged 64 , joined the programme in 2020 , when several factors were inhibiting him from moving back into work .
Previously a joiner , Tom had physical health issues that prevented him from returning to that trade , and with financial problems and a lack of digital skills , the barriers to him gaining employment were high .
Through Step Forward Tees Valley ’ s holistic approach , Tom was referred to Citizens Advice to deal with his debt . He also attended training courses in customer service and digital skills that were provided by the programme , enabling him to become more confident and start applying for jobs again .
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