Take Me To

Take Me To is an exciting creative project which offers people from all neighbourhoods, cultures and ages in Peterborough the opportunity to take part in a series of personalised tours of Peterborough this November. It's a chance to go on a minibus tour around Peterborough, where you show other people who live in Peterborough the places in your neighbourhood that mean something to you in return for being shown the other passengers' neighbourhoods. It's free to take part.

You need to be able to take part on three dates:

1. a tour on either Sat 27th or Sun 28th November

2. a meeting to prepare for your tour on either 11th or 12th November and

3. a final meal and gathering on Wed 1st December.

GPP Annual Forum

The Greater Peterborough Partnership Annual Forum will be held throughout the afternoon of Wednesday 8 December.

At the forum, the achievements and challenges which Peterborough has faced over the past year will be discussed, as well as the future plans for our city. The second half of the forum will concentrate on how the Big Society initiative will affect Peterborough people, businesses and organisations. This is a public meeting to which all are invited to attend and contribute.

To register your interest in attending the GPP Forum, please contact hannah@gpp-peterborough.org.uk.

Further details will follow.

Take Me To

Take Me To is an exciting creative project which offers people from all neighbourhoods, cultures and ages in Peterborough the opportunity to take part in a series of personalised tours of Peterborough this November.

It's a chance to go on a minibus tour around Peterborough, where you show other people who live in Peterborough the places in your neighbourhood that mean something to you in return for being shown the other passengers' neighbourhood and it's free to take part.

For further details - visit http://www.citizenpower.co.uk/events/take-me-to.

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.

Young people raffle car for Peterborough soup kitchen

A car which has been modified with a new stereo system, speakers and alloy wheels by seven enterprising young school leavers is being raffled off to raise money for Peterborough Soup Kitchen.

Peterborough City Council's 8 to 19 service was awarded £6,000 Connecting Communities Government funding in January to work with the young people from Peterborough's central ward on the Modify project. The young people have been involved at every stage, from purchasing the black 2002 Citroen Saxo, managing the budget, working with staff from Ice Direct to modify the car, choosing the charity and organising the raffle.

The car, which was bought for £1,500 from Star Cars in Peterborough, has been fitted with a new stereo system, alarm, exhaust, speakers, window tinting, alloy wheels and lights. All the work has been guaranteed by Ice Direct.

The car will now be raffled with a full MOT certificate, with proceeds going to Peterborough Soup Kitchen. The raffle will be launched at Peterborough Regional College, Park Crescent, Peterborough, on Friday 15 October 2010 at 1.15pm. Tickets will be sold for £2 each to people aged 18 years and over.

People will also be able to enter the raffle when the car is parked outside the former Woolworths store on Bridge Street, Peterborough, on Saturday 23 October 2010 and outside the Town Hall on Bridge Street, Peterborough, on Saturday 30 October 2010from 9am to 5pm.

Mayor of Peterborough, councillor Keith Sharp, will draw the winner at the Youth Access Point in Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, on Friday 17 December 2010 at 2pm.

In recognition of their hard work, the young people involved in the project have achieved a British Safety Council Level 1 health and safety qualification and are working towards a 30-hour Award Scheme Development Accreditation Network (ASDAN) award. Five of the young people have signed up for a course at Peterborough Regional College, another is seeking an apprenticeship with Ice Direct and one young person is working with city council Connexions staff to secure education, training or employment opportunities.

Councillor Sheila Scott, cabinet member for children's services, said: "The amount of time which young people have invested in this project is outstanding. They have been involved at every stage, from the purchase of the car, helping the experts modify it, liaising with Peterborough Soup Kitchen and organising the raffle.

"This is just one example of the many excellent projects our 8 to 19 service is running to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, training or employment. It is great news that all of the young people who have worked so hard have now found education, training or employment opportunities."

Jacqueline Ormston, intensive personal advisor in the city council's 8 to 19 service, said: "The modify project would not have been possible without the hard work of the seven young people who have led on it. They should be very proud of their achievements and I hope they sell all the 3,000 raffle tickets and raise lots of money for Peterborough Soup Kitchen's new van.

"These young people are helping to raise money for an extremely worthwhile cause and at the same time have improved their employability skills. I hope it will inspire other young people to get involved in projects which will raise their aspirations."

Carlos Dominguez, Peterborough Soup Kitchen fundraiser, said: “We are very happy to be the recipient of the funds that the Modify project will bring and to be chosen by the youngsters, who wanted to help poor and homeless people in Peterborough.

“We think that the Modify project helps youngsters get a good start into the world of work and that has to be encouraged.”

Young people who might be interested in a career in the motor vehicle trade should contact the city council's Youth Access Point on (01733) 864500.

Back to Business Birthday Bonanza

Peterborough’s Back to Business Club will mark its first birthday, with a celebration for all involved on Thursday September 30.

Since its launch a year ago, the Back to Business Club has seen 210 managers attend the weekly meetings. At least a third credit the club with helping them back into work or on to the road to self-employment, with thanks to the networking opportunities and seminars designed to help with their job seeking process.

Several members have gone into high profile positions, including head of brand strategy and marketing at the BBC, and contracts negotiator for Cambridge University.

The club will celebrate its birthday by inviting all past and present members to the club on Thursday 30 September from 2pm – 5pm, at City College Peterborough. Anyone who has given their time and expertise to attend the weekly meetings and deliver seminars on various subjects ranging from CV help and interview techniques, to presentation skills and confidence building is also invited, as are representatives from organisations that have supported the club throughout the year, such as City College Peterborough, Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, and Peterborough Women's Enterprise Centre.

A buffet of Indian/English fusion food will be provided at the event, by former club member Parveen Ashraf. Parveen, who recently appeared on Channel 4’s Come Dine with Me, now runs her own catering company specialising in authentic home-cooked Indian food, as well as selling her own range of spices combined with easy to follow step-by-step recipes. Parveen has also appeared on the Ideal World shopping channel to promote her spice boxes.

Parveen said, “I attended many of the Back to Business Club sessions. As someone who was unemployed my self-esteem was quite low, but at the club I found the help and understanding I needed. The atmosphere is relaxed and I felt supported and welcomed.

I applied for several jobs advertised through the club but I am now focusing solely on my Indian catering business - which has really taken off. One of the things I am now doing is teaching cookery courses at the City College thanks to a contact I made at the Back to Business club.”

Greater Peterborough Partnership Director, Richard Astle, said, “The Back to Business Club has played an important role in supporting so many highly qualified and clearly very capable Peterborough people back in to employment, or in many cases, self-employment. There is clearly a pool of highly qualified professionals in the Peterborough area and I would urge any organisations that are looking to recruit in the area to contact the Back to Business Club.”

Following the success of the Back to Business Club, a similar club is being created in Huntingdon based on the experience in Peterborough

The Back to Business Club is held every Thursday from 2pm to 5pm at City College Peterborough, Brook Street. There is no charge for attendance – just contact the Back to Business Club on 01733 207214 or email backtobusiness@gpp-peterborough.org.uk. For more information, visit www.backtobusiness.org.uk.

Businesses urged to take their issues to new business surgeries

Dates have been set for the next three monthly business surgeries to assist established city companies to cut through the red tape and overcome those issues that are hindering their development plans.

Business can now book slots for sessions in September, October and November 2010. The monthly surgeries were launched last month by Peterborough City Council Leader, councillor Marco Cereste, in partnership with Opportunity Peterborough.

Councillor Cereste said: “Despite the very difficult financial climate some businesses continue to thrive and have their own expansion plans. We want to help those existing established businesses prosper and encourage entrepreneurship in the city by removing as much red tape as possible to allow this to happen.”

The sessions will be held on:
• 30 September 2010 from 12noon to 2pm in the Town Hall
• 28 October 2010 from 12noon to 2pm at Stuart House
• 25 November 2010 from 12noon to 2pm at Stuart House

Panellists include councillors Cereste, cabinet member for business engagement Gavin Elsey and cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and planning Peter Hiller, city council chief executive Gillian Beasley, executive director of operations Paul Phillipson, head of planning Simon Machen and Opportunity Peterborough’s director of economic development Neil Darwin. There will also be the opportunity to have individual detailed or sensitive conversations with panellists.

Councillor Elsey, cabinet member for business engagement added: “Our message is ‘Peterborough is very much open for business’ and these sessions are there to help you discuss and resolve any issues you have in a timely manner. We want to assist our city stakeholders to realise their aspirations and make a positive contribution to the future growth of our city.”

To book an appointment call Sally Goulden on (01733) 452481.