| 24 May 2019
Summary: To mark Communities that Work Week, Will Quince MP has visited our ‘Transform and Achieve’ scheme in east London. Since its launch last year, the free programme has already helped nearly 100 people into employment.
Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) has welcomed Will Quince MP on a visit to one of its successful employment programmes in east London.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance visited to mark Communities that Work Week. The week is an initiative led by Give Us a Chance (GUAC) – a consortium of social landlords helping people into work, of which MTVH is a member – to raise awareness of the work housing providers do to help social housing tenants into fulfilling, long-term work.
The employment programme visited, ‘Transform and Achieve’, is a free scheme delivered by MTVH, with support from JP Morgan.
It is open to East London housing association residents of all ages who are out of work with the aim of supporting them into employment, training or volunteering. The programme is based on a holistic model, providing employment training, alongside coaching in mental wellbeing, nutrition and fitness.
The scheme is delivered through a six-week course at locations across east London. It is designed and delivered for MTVH by London-based learning and development training company H&L Resources Ltd.
Since the programme’s launch last year, more than 200 people have participated in Transform and Achieve – including 106 referrals via Jobcentre Plus. So far, almost 100 participants have found a job after completing the programme.
The programme is led by MTVH, which is working in collaboration with other housing associations to deliver it – including Peabody, Swan, L&Q and Poplar Harca, who provide free venue space across east London.
Will Quince MP, said: At the Department for Work and Pensions, our Jobcentre Plus work coaches treat customers as individuals, not numbers. And the transformative impact of this tailored approach is something they see regularly. Similarly, Transform and Achieve programme coaches are making a huge difference, helping residents grow in confidence, understanding what obstacles they have in their lives.
Metropolitan Thames Valley is listening carefully to what their residents need and aspire to, and – as evidenced by the positive early results of Transform and Achieve – they are delivering services and solutions that bring about change.
Geeta Nanda, Chief Executive of MTVH, said: “We’re proud of the positive impact Transform and Achieve is having on people’s lives – and we were very pleased to host the parliamentary under-secretary today and showcase the programme.
As a housing association, one of our key purposes is to empower people and give them the chance to fulfil their potential. We know that we can deliver even more in this respect by establishing innovative partnerships with a wide range of different organisations – so we’re pleased to be working alongside JP Morgan on the Transform and Achieve programme, and look forward to its continued success.
Last year, MTVH supported more than 2,000 people into work, training and voluntary placements.