Equal-Works

A powerful motivational tool to help individuals from disadvantaged groups. The project has developed an approach to personal development that is based on individuals understanding their own barriers to personal development.

The project partners, Exemplas, Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and the Talent Foundation, have piloted this innovative approach to long-term unemployed beneficiaries at several offices in Beds and Herts.

This cognitive approach uses a set of tools and exercises in a workshop structure called the Talent Key. The Talent Key is a two-day workshop that uses many of the principles of diversity developed by the partnership. At the end of the programme, customers have increased confidence and motivation, and create an action plan to make the changes required to maximise their own potential and take ownership of their own route back to employment.

The Talent Key has been piloted with lone parents and people on incapacity benefit who are currently unemployed. Individuals who are long-term unemployed and are looking to get back into the workplace can benefit from confidence building and cognitive training to overcome their perceived and physical barriers. The course helps participants to address their issues, examine what they really want to do as a job, and plan how they can achieve their ultimate goals.

• A new set of materials
• A pool of experienced Talent Key facilitators
• An extensive evaluation report linking to JCP targets and demographic research
• 160 long-term unemployed on the course
• 70 jobs created
• 70 customers re-engaging with JCP mainstream provision
• Promotion of a new approach to training for long-term unemployed
• Disseminate the outcomes to a wide audience so programmes can be run in other counties through JCP.