Fife Employment Access Trust s1

FEAT currently has a number of different projects being delivered by our staff team, the following pages are designed to give you an outline and a flavour for all elements of our work.

FIFE EMPLOYMENT ACCESS TRUST

WHO ARE WE?

VISION FEAT’s vision is to enable and support individuals to reach their full positive mental well-being in a culture where there is no stigma

MISSION By employing an inclusive, non-judgmental approach to prepare, support, and empower people to flourish by managing their mental health for life – whatever life does, by:  Working with others to eliminate the stigma on mental health in the workplace and communities.

 Providing service-users with strategies and tools to improve their resilience.

 Creating safe, nurturing, supportive and compassionate environments to grow.

 Developing strategic partnerships with complementary and diverse organisations that share our vision.

 Supporting the welfare and continuous professional development of staff and volunteers so they may continue to provide exceptional services.

BACKGROUND FEAT was founded in 1994 by a small group of people – some disabled or with experience of mental health problems – who were concerned at the lack of employment opportunities for disabled people and people with mental health problems in Fife. Today we have earned a reputation as a unique organisation delivering life-changing outcomes for people in Fife with wide ranging mental health difficulties. This position has been won through years of persistent effort, stimulated always by the desire each day to see improvement in peoples’ lives, in society generally and with the input of ideas and new ways of working to make each day an advance on yesterday.

The organisation employs 20 staff today and has gained and sustained a reputation for excellence in service delivery. The organisation expanded fairly rapidly from 2012 onwards, from delivering one major employability project to delivering 3, along with a number of other projects aimed at improving health and wellbeing. The expansion has been grant funded, almost entirely, however as 2015/16 approaches, several of these current funding sources are due to end and the organisation is looking to re- focus its activities and where possible amalgamate different projects.

FEAT won the 2014 Fife Volunteering & Voluntary Sector Awards in the Partnership category and also made the final 3 in the 2014 Herald Society Awards in the same category.

Project Management

Fife Employment Access Trust : Tel 01592 759371 FEAT’s became a company limited by guarantee in 2011 and the Board of Directors, along with the General Manger, are responsible for developing policy, monitoring progress and providing strategic management to the organisation.

Projects and Staffing

We currently have 20 members of staff delivering the following projects:

Journey To Work – Providing advice and practical support to people with mental health problems who wish to work, including a variety of personal development workshops and cognitive behavioural therapies as well as one-to-one employment advisor support. This project is part of the Fife Employability & Training Consortium.

Mental Health in the Workplace Training FEAT also works closely with employers in a variety of training courses for employers and people who manage staff to offer best practice on dealing with mental health issues in the workplace, and inform managers of their responsibilities in relation to the mental health and well being of their staff. We also deliver awareness displays across Fife for employers and the wider public.

The above projects are funded by The Big Lottery Fund, The Robertson Trust and the European Social Fund. Training sessions aimed at improving “community wellbeing” aimed at the general public are also delivered on a regular basis.

Employ your Mind FEAT secured funding from the Big Lottery and NHS Fife to begin this 5-year project from June 2012, which is focused on basic employability training for severe and enduring mental health inpatient and outpatient users of psychiatric services in Fife. This innovative project is the only vocational programme involving computerised cognitive remediation therapy in Scotland.

Mind your Mind FEAT secured funding in 2012 from the Community Interventions Fund to deliver a combination of Mindfulness and Mental Health Awareness courses to people aged 50+ in Fife for the next 2 years.

Collydean Community Connections This 2-year project is funded by the Fife Health & Wellbeing Alliance with the aim of tackling health inequalities in the Collydean area of Glenrothes to 2015. In summary, we wish to co-ordinate the provision of community-led approaches linked meaningfully to improved physical wellbeing, better psychological flexibility and resilience, co-ordinated by a Community Wellbeing post. The co-ordinator would support the community to take the lead on determining the aspects of improving health and wellbeing that's most important to them and the community will utilise the experience and knowledge of FEAT and partner organisations to devise solutions.

FEAT are the lead-partner and employer for this project, however it is a partnership including Glen Housing Association, Fife Shopping & Support Services and Collydean Primary School.

Remploy Connect

Fife Employment Access Trust : Tel 01592 759371 A 12-month programme of support to ex-Remploy workers from the Leven factory commencing October 2013. Providing a wide range of social and vocational activities to participants with wide ranging disabilities. Funded by the Office for Disability, Department of Work & Pensions.

Grow your Mind A 2-year project funded by the Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland's Self- Management Impact Fund, delivered in partnership with Falkland Centre for Stewardship, New Caledonian Woodlands and NHS Fife Mental Health Directorate. Based on the Employ your Model, this project will work with those with severe and enduring mental health conditions and provide rural skills and woodland training, combined with a range of mental health and wellbeing support.

Accreditation FEAT have also been awarded approved training centre status by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (in 2012) and are able to deliver the “Steps to Work” qualification to Access Level 3 standard and are working towards the PQASSO Quality Assurance Level 2 standards.

Social Enterprise FEAT Trading Ltd is our community interest company that undertakes commercial contracts and passes surpluses back to the charity, with a view of reducing our reliance on grant funding.

Heart, Mind & Soul: Silverburn Silverburn Estate is a 27-acre park area owned by Fife Council, following a bequeath from the Russell Family in the 1970s. The terms of the gift were that the estate should remain forever as a quiet area used for the benefit of the public. In 2010 Fife Council took a decision to market the estate which has been in decay for several years and community groups were invited to tender an interest on the basis of a long term lease, which would propose sensitive and not overly developed plans to modernise and operate the facilities to an optimum standard. In June 2012, Fife Council agreed to allow FEAT a period of exclusivity to June 2014 to work up a detailed and fully costed business planning proposal.

FEAT are currently working with a wide range of local groups and individuals to ensure the final offer meets the needs and aspirations of all potential users.

Further updates on FEAT’s activities are available at: www.journeytowork.co.uk www.facebook.com/fifeemploymentaccesstrust www.facebook.com/collydeancommunityconnections www.facebook.com/heartmindsoulsilverburn

Follow us on twitter @FEATinFife and see us on Flickr www.flickr.com/journeytowork

Fife Employment Access Trust : Tel 01592 759371