Step Back to Step Up
Participants at the Step Back to Step Up project
A project in Coventry which aims to help young mothers into employment has recently received a £12,000 Community Grant from the European Social Fund (ESF). The grant comes to them via the Heart of England Community Foundation, which administers the ESF Community Grants in the West Midlands on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency.
Step Back to Step Up is a not-for-profit organisation set up to encourage and help young female parents into work, with a particular focus on the hair and beauty industry. The grant will fund two 15 week courses for single mothers in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry. The courses are intended to raise career aspirations and build self esteem; providing the necessary foundations on which to build employable skills and move into work.
The courses offer individually tailored one-to-one support and guidance with job search skills. The provision includes a Job Club, which in a group setting helps participants identify and apply for suitable vacancies, and which offers support in improving interview techniques. All participants are involved in mock interviews, where they have the opportunity to be both interviewer and interviewee. In this way participants can gain confidence and understanding of the interview process and learn what recruiters are looking for from potential employees.
Participants on the course will also have opportunities to learn new skills in hair and beauty from a qualified hair, beauty and nails technician. Step Back to Step Up has links with several companies in the hair and beauty industry with a view to finding placements for participants who complete the course.