FEATURE
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How Step Forward Tees Valley adds millions in social value by helping people improve their employability
Good mental health is a key factor in both finding a job and remaining in that job .
And unemployment causes stress , which ultimately has long-term physiological health effects and can have negative consequences for mental health , including depression , anxiety and lower self-esteem .
Step Forward Tees Valley , a programme funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund and managed by Humankind Charity , has a proven track record in supporting people back into work and training .
Since 2016 , it has supported 2,283 people in the Tees Valley to overcome mental health barriers on their journey towards employment . This support has been estimated to be worth £ 15.8m in social value to the UK economy .
Two-and-a-half years ago , Julie Davitt was unexpectedly made redundant from her job and started suffering from anxiety and depression as a result .
She said : “ I felt rejected and not worth anything . It got to the stage where I had started contemplating the worst .”
Julie went to see her doctor , who recommended counselling . She was referred to one of Step Forward Tees Valley ’ s partner organisations , Changing Lives .
There she was introduced to Adrian , a navigator at Step Forward Tees Valley ’ s Darlington hub . Together with the rest of the Darlington team , Adrian made a real difference to Julie ’ s life .
“ I wasn ’ t going out and I didn ’ t feel like getting out of bed most days ,” Julie said . “ I just felt at a bit of a loss . At one stage , I couldn ’ t go anywhere and dreaded leaving the house .”
Asked what Step Forward Tees Valley did to support her , Julie reeled off a list of activities and courses she ’ d taken part in .
“ I took part in a course on healthy eating , coffee mornings where you could just chat and get to know people and build your confidence , and digital skills courses .
“ I was given help in brushing up my CV and they eventually got me a work experience placement with AAA Caring
Caretaker in Newton Aycliffe .”
Step Forward Tees Valley has worked with more than 341 employers in the Tees Valley over the last six years to provide training , work placements and job opportunities to the programme ’ s participants .
AAA Caring Caretaker has been hugely supportive to Step Forward Tees Valley over the years , providing work experience , jobs and guidance to the programme ’ s participants .
Since being established in 2015 , AAA has grown rapidly and provides cleaning and caretaker services to companies and organisations across the North-East and Yorkshire , including PD Ports , Hartlepool Marina , Esh Housing and the Ministry of Defence .
“ I can honestly say that I wouldn ’ t be where I am now without Step Forward Tees Valley .”
AAA ’ s managing director Alison Stephenson recognises the importance of good mental health in the workplace and has introduced a raft of initiatives that both support staff and , as a result , get the best out of them .
Personalised support plans , flexible working , equality and diversity training , mental wellbeing courses and mindfulness are just some of the initiatives in place .
After a successful three-month placement with AAA , Julie was offered a part-time role in the company ’ s offices doing office administration .
She said : “ I can honestly say the confidence Alison gave me in the three months I was there on placement was brilliant and I was so happy when I was offered a job that I cried !
“ I couldn ’ t imagine when I started with Step Forward Tees Valley that I ’ d be where I am now . I ’ m starting to enjoy my life again and I ’ ve got a purpose . AAA want me to fit in and I feel wanted .”
However , it ’ s not just Julie ’ s working life that has changed immeasurably since becoming a participant in Step Forward Tees Valley . She credits the programme with helping her in other ways .
“ Since I started , I ’ ve never felt alone – and although I have a wonderful family , I did feel isolated before .
“ I realised that lots of people out there were going through the same thing and it took talking to others to realise I wasn ’ t on my own . I ’ ve got so much more motivation now .
“ I go to the gym every day , I practice mindfulness and I go hiking every week with my friend . I ’ d never have done anything like that before .”
Funding from the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund comes to an end next year , and without a new funding stream being secured , Step Forward Tees Valley ’ s future is uncertain .
Since 2016 , Step Forward Tees Valley has worked from hubs in Darlington , Hartlepool , Middlesbrough , Redcar and Stockton with some of the hardest-toreach people in our communities .
The programme has worked with more than 4,100 people since 2016 and helped almost 800 people get into work and training .
By supporting people to overcome barriers such as money matters , digital skills , homelessness , disability , basic skills , substance and alcohol use , reoffending , homelessness , and long-term health issues , Step Forward Tees Valley has contributed a social value of almost £ 44m to the economy .
Julie is enthusiastic and unequivocal when asked where she would be without Step Forward Tees Valley .
“ I can honestly say that I wouldn ’ t be where I am now without Step Forward Tees Valley and it ’ s incredibly sad that the funding for the programme is coming to an end .
“ I don ’ t know how to thank them . It ’ s not a paperwork exercise for them . I wasn ’ t just a number or a name – it was like a family . If I won the lottery , I ’ d make sure I funded them myself !”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 53