| 14 February 2020
Summary: MTVH is proud to be a finalist in the ‘Resident employment and training award (over 15,000 homes)’ category in the UK Housing Awards 2020
Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) is proud to be a finalist in the ‘Resident employment and training award (over 15,000 homes)’ category in the UK Housing Awards 2020 which recognises excellence in the housing sector.
This is for the Transform and Achieve training programme supported by J.P. Morgan – free for our unemployed or underemployed residents – which has dramatically changed people’s lives by building their confidence and supporting them in their job search.
Typically 50% of attendees secure employment, 17% find work placements and 9% enrol in training.
Before attending the Transform and Achieve course, Chris was homeless with no income. He was unable to claim benefits and, at 55, he thought he was too old to find a job.
“I had no confidence at all, but Transform and Achieve instilled in us that age wasn’t the barrier we thought it was. I’ve done an IT course and I’m now training to work on the Underground! Everyone who has been long term unemployed should have the opportunity to do the course,” he says.
Every course is inspirational, relevant and inclusive for all participants and this results in a high retention rate of 85-90%. Support after the course has ended is vital, and almost all participants say this has helped them maintain momentum in their job search.
MTVH resident Farhana says: “I’m grateful for the support I’ve been given; thanks to Transform and Achieve I will one day have my own food business.”
The course has boosted her confidence, she has met new friends, and improved her English. Since Transform and Achieve, she has done a number of different courses, including one for volunteers. Described as reliable, punctual and hardworking, Farhana, who is mother to two small children, is currently volunteering, and is enthusiastic about her big plans for the future.
Rina lost confidence in her abilities whilst raising her children. She had no social life and the daily routine made her negative without even realising it. The fact that she graduated years before had become a distant memory.
Her journey in building her self-confidence began with Transform and Achieve. “It helped me realise how changing your outlook can really affect the way you present yourself. I realised how much I had achieved instead of dwelling on time I thought I’d lost by not working. Having the support of experts was great as I knew I was getting the best advice,” she says.
Rina applied for jobs she would previously have talked herself out of. “I am living the dream – I landed myself a full time position at one of the national newspapers which I’m so proud of. It’s all thanks to the wonderful course leaders that made me start believing in myself again. I’d recommend it to anyone ready to embrace change and see the results I have,” she says.
Transform and Achieve has run 25 programmes in East London, of which 21 have been completed – with 436 participants and 206 people getting into work. It is aiming for an outcome of over 60% participants into work by the end.
The UKHA Awards take place on Thursday 7 May 2020 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.
For information about Transform and Achieve contact transformandachieve@metropolitan.org.uk or Freephone 0800 0323334