Tips for people who are looking for work
Where to go
Staff at your local Job Centre Plus will be able to help you find work, give you advice on benefits and also sign post you to organisations for support in finding a job. www.gov.uk
Voluntary work
Volunteering can offer so much. If you want or need to develop skills, want to see what it would be like to work in a specific area or just want to give something back to the community, voluntary work is well worth looking in to.
Many local towns and cities have voluntary bureaus such as the Voluntary Skills Council. These organisations would be willing to sign post you to voluntary opportunities.
Voluntary work should not affect your benefits. (please seek professional advice about this) www.do-it.org – This is a web site which offers opportunities in your area
Local colleges
Many local colleges run employability courses to help you get started and help you to develop the skills you need to move closer to the world of work. Local colleges have neighbourhood sites which may be in your area. They offer excellent opportunities to develop and gain new skills. www.colleges-uk.co.uk - This is a website that will help you find a college that is local to you.
Work Choice
Work Choice can help you get and keep a job if you have a disability or an ongoing health condition and find it hard to work.
The type of support you will get depends on what you need - It’s different for everyone. For example, you might get help with:
• training • building your confidence • finding a job that suits you • interview coaching • developing your skills
Work Choice is delivered by different providers across the country. They offer 3 levels of help.
Level of help What you get How long it lasts Work Entry Support Advice on work and personal skills to help you Up to 6 find a job months
In-Work Support Help to start work and stay in your job Up to 2 years
Longer-term In-Work Help to get on in your job and work without Long-term Support support
Please see below to find out who to contact in your area if you’re thinking about joining Work Choice:
MOMENTUM www.momentumuk.org.uk Highlands, Islands, Clyde Coast & Grampian 0141 419 5299
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Forth Valley, Fife & Tayside 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Glasgow, Lanarkshire & East Dunbartonshire 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders, Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway & Inverclyde 0300 3033111 WORKING LINKS www.workinglinks.co.uk North & Mid Wales, South East Wales 0800 917 9262
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk South West Wales, South Wales Valleys 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk South Tyne & Wear Valley, Northumbria 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk North & East Yorkshire & the Humber, Tees Valley 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Cumbria & Lancashire 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Greater Manchester Central, Greater Manchester 0300 3033111 East & West
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Merseyside, Cheshire Halton & Warrington 0300 3033111
PLUSS www.pluss.org.uk West Yorkshire 0800 334 5525
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Derbyshire, South Yorkshire 0300 3033111
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Rutland 0300 3033111
WORKING LINKS www.workinglinks.co.uk Leicestershire & Northamptonshire 0800 917 9262
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk The Marches, Staffordshire, Coventry & Warwickshire 0300 3033111
ADVANCE HOUSING & SUPPORT www.advanceuk.org Birmingham & Solihull, Black Country
0333 012 4307
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Cambridgeshire & Suffolk, Norfolk 0300 3033111 SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire, Essex 0300 3033111
WORKING LINKS www.workinglinks.co.uk Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham, City & East London 0800 917 9262
SEETEC www.seetec.co.uk West London, Central London, Barnet, Enfield & Haringey 0845 33 06 573
INGEUS UK www.ingeus.co.uk South London, Lambeth, Southwark & Wandsworth 0121 386 6980.
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire 0300 3033111
CDG WISE ABILITY www.cdgwiseability.com Hampshire & isle of Wight 0300 247 2500
WORKING LINKS www.workinglinks.co.uk Surrey & Sussex, Kent 0800 917 9262
WORKING LINKS www.workinglinks.co.uk West of England, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Swindon 0800 917 9262
SHAW TRUST www.shaw-trust.org.uk Dorset & Somerset 0300 3033111
PLUSS www.pluss.org.uk Devon & Cornwall 0800 334 5525
Alternatively, Remploy deliver Work Choice in most areas and they can be contacted on: www.remploy.co.uk or 0300 456 8110