Blackpool and The Fylde College played host to the launch of a new scheme which aims to provide training and employment opportunities to people previously claiming incapacity benefit.

Working for Health (W4H) is a programme which helps those who want to enter employment within the health and social care sector. For many reasons individuals on incapacity benefit have been a largely ignored pool of labour but, the W4H programme provides the appropriate support and development to learners to improve their health and well being and help them gain meaningful employment. The aim of the programme is to provide six months paid work experience and the opportunity to undergo recognised and accredited training programmes.

The project originated in East Lancashire as a pilot, but a cohort was commissioned in Blackpool as part of the Northern Way Worklessness Pilot in early 2008. Working for Health in Blackpool is a joint venture between Blackpool Council’s Positive Steps into Work team and Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool PCT’s with Blackpool and The Fylde College providing

L-R Karen Wood; Recruitment Manager, Blackpool and The Fylde College, David Shakespeare and Coun Ian Fowler

Level 1 qualifications and NVQ Level 2 as well as Skills For Life qualifications, which cohorts study for while working and are assessed in the workplace.

The Blackpool pilot programme recruited 12 people in February 2008 who were all offered six month, paid work placements within the health sector while undergoing training to achieve an accredited qualification. The programme ended in early September 2008 and nine of the participants completed both the training and the work placement aspects of the course. All of these nine completers went on to secure permanent employment either with the placement organisation or elsewhere.

Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College; Pauline Waterhouse OBE said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to get people back into work an also to improve their skills and qualifications. I’m sure that although they will have a certain amount of trepidation at the thought of what is ahead of them, they will be successful and I wish them every success."

David Shakespeare, one of the nine successful original participants now works in a permanent part time role at Blackpool Council’s Solaris Centre.

David said: "Before I signed up for the scheme, I was sat at home staring at the four walls and at times feeling suicidal. I had been on incapacity benefit for four years but the programme changed my life. I gained a qualification in NVQ Level 2 Business Administration and learnt many new skills as well as getting my confidence and self esteem back. I now have a great job and I really believe it the whole experience saved my life."

Councillor Ian Fowler; Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council said: "This is a wonderful example of organisations working in partnership together and the very fact that all nine participants on the original scheme went on to secure employment speaks volumes."

Blackpool Council’s, Positive Steps into Work team, have recently secured funding to develop and run three more W4H programmes in Blackpool and have already recruited the first two cohorts. The first group have all secured training placements in either the Council’s Social Services Department or within Third Sector organisations. The group officially take up their new training placements on Monday 19th January when the programme commences. The second group have already been recruited and their placements are based in the Acute Trust (Blackpool Victoria Hospital) – their programme is due to begin in mid February.