CHARITY
CASE STUDY
Bouncing back – Julian found work with Tesco after completing a warehousing course .
“ I had no idea that these opportunities were available to me and would never have known how to access them without Step Forward Tees Valley .”
Tom said : “ I found out about Step Forward Tees Valley at a jobs fair after speaking to a ‘ navigator ’ called Lisa . I was then introduced to Richard , another navigator .
“ He talked me through the benefits I was entitled to , helped me through the process of obtaining personal independence payments and negotiated with the job centre to help them understand my situation better . “ I was able to take part in mental health courses , a carers ’ course and NVQs in retail , catering and customer service .
“ Taking part in these courses showed people I was eager to retrain for a new career , because I was unable to go back to my trade as a joiner .
“ I had no idea that these opportunities were available to me and would never have known how to access them without Step Forward Tees Valley .”
Now employed on a part-time contract by ERS , one of the UK ’ s leading independent research consultancies , and based in Newcastle and Bristol , Tom is looking forward to the future with new-found skills and experience , as well as optimism he didn ’ t have before he started on the Step Forward Tees Valley programme .
Programme director Vikkie Wilkinson said : “ We ’ re really pleased to see how Tom and other participants have progressed since joining the programme .
“ We can see how much potential there is in the over-50 demographic to provide a real boost to businesses in the Tees Valley , and we are always looking for new businesses to work with .”
After moving to Hartlepool and having invested his savings into setting up his own business , 50-year-old Julian found it difficult to know what to do when the business wasn ’ t successful .
Suffering from depression and anxiety , he wasn ’ t sure what to do until he was referred to Step Forward Tees Valley .
After contacting the programme , Julian was paired with a navigator who worked to identify the support he needed , and with the help of partner organisations , Julian was able to rebuild his confidence .
Identifying that he wanted the opportunity to get back into work , Step Forward Tees Valley was able to put Julian through warehouse management qualifications , which resulted in him gaining full-time work through an agency .
Julian said : “ After moving to the North-East and having a hard time with my own business , I really didn ’ t know where to go and what to do .
“ I started suffering from anxiety and depression as a result and it got to the point where I had a nervous breakdown . I really had hit rock bottom .
“ I came across Step Forward Tees Valley because I needed to find a way of getting back into work .
“ I received help with my finances and did a fourday course in warehousing that the programme found for me . Through that , I got an interview with Tesco and was successful and I now work regularly in their warehouse .
“ After I ’ d realised my business wasn ’ t going to work I was looking for my place in the world , and Step Forward Tees Valley helped me find that .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 81