New Peterborough Future Jobs Fund website launched

A new website aimed at increasing the employment of Peterborough’s young people has been launched.

www.futurejobsfund.org.uk holds information on how young people aged 18 – 24 years old can apply for a Future Jobs Fund role, and lists the jobs that are currently available. Vacancies include a number of office junior and admin roles as well as many trainee positions in painting, playwork and tourism.

Lee Wyer, Future Jobs Fund Projects Assistant said, “We aimed to create a website which was more interactive for our target audience. We have included links to our blog, facebook and twitter enabling people to get in touch with us more easily. It has been great to be involved in the development of the website, the project has provided me with even more skills and to add to those already gained through my FJF placement.”

The Future Jobs Fund is a government initiative which aims to give long term unemployed young people a valuable 6 month paid work experience, through which they receive training and guidance to assist them in gathering the essential skills and experience needed for the work place. All Future Jobs Fund positions are focused on providing a benefit to the community whilst also increasing the job prospects of the individual. All Future Jobs Fund employees also receive guidance and support in the form of training, workshops and advice services.

The scheme has proved to dramatically improve the employability levels of Peterborough’s 18 – 24 year olds, with a large proportion of those completing the scheme going directly into full time employment.

Gary Conder, Future Jobs Fund project manager said, “The Future Jobs Fund initiative has provided Peterborough’s young unemployed with some fantastic paid work experience in a range of interesting job roles. The scheme has allowed these young people to learn more about the different types of careers and opportunities which are open to them and also provided them with the essential skills and experience needed when entering the world of work.”

“The Future Jobs Fund scheme has opened lots of doors for Peterborough’s young people. The scheme has also increased the employability prospects of our young workforce, providing the skills and abilities which many of the employers today are looking for. Local employers should be aware of the Future Jobs Fund and the array of talent which the scheme is helping to build in our city.”

Visit www.futurejobsfund.org.uk to take a look at the new website.

The Future Jobs Fund are looking for mentors, can you help?

The Future Jobs Fund are currently looking for mentors for young people who are taking part in the FJF, a citywide scheme which works to help young people gain long term employment.

It is hoped that mentors for the 18 - 24 year olds will volunteer for a few hours as part of the first Future Jobs Fund mentoring week. Mentoring week will be held from 20 - 24 September at the Future Jobs Fund shop on Long Causeway. FJF employees will be able to drop in to the shop between 10am - 4pm with mentors on hand to offer advice on careers and employment.

The Future Jobs Fund is specifically looking for mentors in the following areas to help young people with their questions:

Business Administration
Business Management
Advertising
IT
Working with people with special needs
Nursing
Education
Building
Joinery.

If you would like to become a mentor for the Future Jobs Fund, please contact Insiya Salam with your availability and specialist area on insiya.salam@peterborough.gov.uk.

Future Jobs Fund Peterborough

Meet the Future Jobs Fund Employees

Richard Cooper joined the Care and repair team at Peterborough City Council on Monday 4th January. Richard says "The Future Jobs Fund Project has allowed me to undertake work for the care and repair team at Peterborough City Council.

My first week has been a real experience as it has allowed me to get a feel of office life and learn about what the care and repair team does for the local community. After an initial introduction, I was able to go on a site visit with my colleague to some client’s homes. This allowed me to see the difference the team makes to vulnerable people in the community. Since then, I have been doing all different office duties throughout the week and am currently taking calls and information for the handy person scheme

The future Job Fund has allowed me to find work of which I have always wanted to do and would not have been able to gain such valuable experience if it was not for the Future Job Fund Project."

Russell Carr, Care and Repair manager says "Richard joined us on Monday, most of the first day involved admin and an introduction to the team and its systems. I was surprised how quick Richard was to pick up our processes especially the IT elements.

Richard has assisted our Caseworkers and Surveyors on visits and has already been able to help with general admin work. On Thursday Richard ran the Care & Repair Handy person service for the day dealing with client’s queries by telephone. He allocated, chased and queried handy person work with contractors by e-mail and telephone.

Richard’s input has had a beneficial effect already; the work he has done has allowed other team members to concentrate on other work to assist older, disabled and vulnerable people.

It has been a really positive first week, feedback from the team has been really encouraging. We are now looking to get CRB clearance to allow Richard to have the opportunity to undertake home visits on his own in the future. "

To find out more about the Future Jobs Fund visit www.futurejobsfund.org.uk