Ref: PR1855
Date: 21/07/08

More local people in Wakefield are turning their lives around and getting back in to work thanks to Access to Employment.

The scheme, managed and part funded by Wakefield Council along with Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Agency, helps people to gain quality employment and qualifications.

Wayne Kelly has been a learner with the Wakefield Adult and Community Education Service for the past two years.

The 30-year-old, of Lupset, had been unemployed for seven years before he joined the Access to Employment project at the St George Centre in Lupset and has now secured a job there too.

He said: "The centre staff were really supportive and I have really appreciated the opportunities I have been given, especially having the chance to achieve my Level 2 NVQ in customer care at St Georges.

"My confidence has grown so much and my communication skills have really improved. When I first started my placement I was afraid to answer the phone, now I can talk to anybody and everybody."

Mr Kelly's first course was a BTec Level 1 Healthy Eating course followed by Level 2 Nutrition awareness, food hygiene, first aid and ICT courses. He then went on to get a placement at the St Georges Centre as part of a customer service course.

Lindsay Huculak is another success story from Access to Employment after joining in January.

She is a lone parent living on the Lupset estate, but was keen to make a better life for herself and her young daughter Lialla.

She had worked with the elderly in a care home for a short time after leaving school and with support from the A2E project she was able to attend the four day Wakefield Council Care Induction course and a first aid course at St Georges Centre in Lupset.

During an A2E session in May, Lindsay completed an application form for the position of care assistant at the Snapethorpe Hall Nursing home and after introducing herself, she was invited along for an interview and was offered the job.

She said: "I think it is really important that there are sessions like the ones I attended at the St Georges Centre for local people to go along to. We need courses like this in the local community.

"I felt it gave me the opportunity to build my confidence, make new friends and receive one-to-one support with job search activities."

Another Wakefield woman is over the moon after landing her first job in more than 18 months.

After completing the Retail and Customer Service Gateway Course at A4e Wakefield, Joan was helped to find a role at a major retailer.

The Retail and Customer Services Gateway is a project run under the Skills Action Plan which is delivered by Wakefield Council and the Learning Skills Council using funds from Yorkshire Forward.

Joan, 51 of Wakefield said: "After bringing up my kids I felt I'd lost a lot of the skills I used to have. The course I did at A4e helped me build on those skills and learn new ones. It really helped me get my confidence back."

After starting on a short term contract, Joan's employers were so pleased with her performance that they increased her hours and contract term. Joan has now been in sustainable employment for over six months and is looking forward to her future in the company and hopes to become a supervisor.

Ends.