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Safe space in Bournemouth offers employment support
Safe space in Bournemouth offers employment support
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UnLtd employee
UnLtd position
UnLtd Award Winner, the Samee Project, has opened a safe space in Bournemouth offering employment and self-employment support.
The Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Eddie Coope opened the centre alongside Sam Everard, CEO of the Samee Project. The new centre aims to support groups with a particular barrier to work including disability, long-term unemployment and single parents.
The centre offers training and support to improve confidence with the skills needed for work and self-employment. The centre will be open from 10am to 4pm each day and will offer sessions on a one-to-one or group basis depending on the needs of the person.
Sam Everard was inspired to action by the stories of job seekers she had met throughout her career. ""Not having a job should not stop you looking for opportunities"", said Sam, ""In fact, it should encourage you to look at yourself and see what skills and talents you have that you can develop. A lot of the people we work with are making things and could use their hobbies to supplement their income.
UnLtd provided funding, along with the Big Lottery Fund, AFC Bournemouth's The Cherries Community Fund and other supporters. Social ventures like the Samee Project are part of UnLtd's work on access to employment. Despite an overall fall in unemployment, employability remains an issue. As findings in our Impact Report 2016 show, certain groups continue to struggle to find employment.
According to UnLtd's Director of Strategy and Influence, Katharine Danton, 'The continued drop in unemployment is a great story for the UK, however it hides the distressing fact that many groups of people are left behind. Social Entrepreneurs like Sam Everand of Samee offer employment solutions which tap into the talent of everyone across society'
Organisations like the Sammee Project offer important employability skills training to local people.
'We have opened this centre, the only one in the area, to encourage people to talk to us about how they can improve themselves and bring independence back to their lives', says Sam, 'there are no barriers to the work we do as we understand how hard it is to make that change and move on.'
More than just a skills training centre, it's already playing a social role for those searching for employment - 'we are finding people just come in for a chat and drink tea, until they are ready to take those next steps.' With the space we have, there is also the opportunity for them to advertise products and services to test market their idea.'