FEATURE
Every step of the way
How jobs and training scheme has transformed lives and boosted the region ’ s economy
Retail therapy – Ewa found work with Marks & Spencer after impressing the company in a mock interview .
S ince 2016 , Step Forward Tees Valley has supported thousands of people across the Tees Valley to move closer to work and training .
As part of the Building Better Opportunities programme , funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund , the initiative – managed by Humankind Charity – has made a huge impact on the aspirations and lives of some of the hardest-to-reach people in our communities .
Over the years , Step Forward Tees Valley has supported more than 4,400 participants to overcome barriers to work and training .
These barriers included digital skills training and inclusion , financial advice and guidance , improving health and mental wellbeing , finding volunteering and work placement opportunities and providing employment support .
The most recent figures from the programme – collected in February 2023 – have shown Step Forward Tees Valley to be overwhelmingly successful in its target of moving unemployed people over the age of 18 in the Tees Valley closer to work and training .
Since its inception , 788 individuals have moved into education or training , 399 unemployed people have moved into employment and 737 participants who were previously classed as economically inactive ( defined by the Office of National Statistics as “ people not in employment who have not been seeking work within the last four weeks and / or are unable to start work within the next two weeks ”) have moved into employment or are now actively job searching .
The social value of the programme since 2016 is
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