January 2012 - Children in care get employment boost
DOZENS of children across the region who have been in care will benefit from a government scheme to encourage employers to help them find work, training or further education.
The FromCare2Work programme attracted its 100th employer this week – Building contractor Breyer Group – which means it now provides more than 4,000 work placement opportunities for young people coming out of care.
Statistics show that in the area covered by Hampshire County Council just 6.6 per cent of pupils who had been in care for a year or longer achieved five A* to C graded GCSEs including English and maths, known as the ‘gold standard’ in 2011, compared with a national average of 58.6 per cent.
In Portsmouth, where just 15 children who sat GCSEs had been in care for more than a year, the number achieving the gold standard was too low to record.
Tim Loughton, children’s minister, said: ‘Leaving a foster placement or children’s home and stepping out into the adult world is understandably daunting for many young people.
‘It’s vital they get help to gain the skills and training they need.’
The Department for Education is providing £680,000 to the National Care Advisory Service from 2011-2013 to run the FromCare2Work programme.
Reported by www.portsmouth.co.uk
January 2012 - New year, new career for Lewisham residents
Over the last three months Lewisham Homes and major works contractor Breyer Group have worked together to provide back to work opportunities to over 90 Lewisham residents.
Residents have been given the chance to attend our monthly work clubs to help with interview skills, CV writing and job searches and also to gain experience through work placements.
As well as the training and development opportunities, Lewisham Homes has provided 19 apprenticeships for local residents under the age of 24, as part of Lewisham Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme. In addition to this, Breyer Group have also taken 5 apprentices into their organisations in the fields of decorating, carpentry and plumbing.
Cllr Susan Wise cabinet member for Housing said “The Major Works programme goes much wider than improvements to kitchens and bathrooms. Both contractors are committed to delivering a programme of community investment to ensure wider benefits for residents. It is excellent to see the positive impact this is having, giving real work experience and opportunities to our local young people.”
January 2012 - Breyer are now working towards 'CommunityMark'
The CommunityMark is a standard that takes a holistic approach to community investment. The CommunityMark is not an award – it is an independent, 360-degree, rigorous assessment process that defines innovators and leaders in community investment. We are pleased to announce we are working towards this standard and will keep you up-to-date with progress reports.
January 2012 - From property poverty to a home to be proud of.
Learning the desperate plight of a tenant really galvanised the teams from Breyer Group and Redbridge Homes: no-one had come across a more worthy reason to create a Decent Home.
“In 11 years of working on the Decent Homes Programme I’d never seen anything like it” said Darren Denham, Breyer’s Site Manager, as he entered the property at Cranbrook Road. Black mould covered the ceilings, walls - everything. “How anyone lived like this was beyond our comprehension” recalled Mark Meager, Site Foreman.
The 82 year old tenant speaks no English. Due to cost she had not used gas and survived on £10 a week for electricity, picking up free meals from the Salvation Army. She would have been entitled to social benefits however her one supposed friend was claiming these on her behalf and not passing them on.
Rixonway Kitchens, a Breyer Group supplier, drew up a plan on the afternoon of the 8th December. The kitchen was fitted and completed just 4 days later. The severity of this project meant new floors, cleaning and decorating were carried out throughout - including hallways and bedrooms.
With the spirit of Christmas drawing near, Breyer wanted to help the tenant to come back to a better life, not just a better home. A new cooker, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and crockery were bought for the kitchen. A disabled person’s shower, rail and curtain together with a bath board were fitted in the bathroom. The work was completed by 21st December.
Upon return from being decamped the tenant was asked to cover her eyes, enter the flat and go into the kitchen. “When she opened her eyes it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. She wondered through the house touching our hands making prayer signs.” Said Darren. “Everyone really pulled together for this: Redbridge Homes, Breyer Group and our sub-contractor Borough Property Maintenance. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved in helping improve someone’s life”.
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