Workwise
What is WorkWise?
WorkWise originally started in Nottingham after a need was identified to help unemployed people access training, interviews and jobs, without having the use of a car.
WorkWise in the West Midlands was launched in June 2003 as a two-year pilot project operating at both Chelmsley Wood and Sparkhill Jobcentres - both deprived areas in need of initiatives to help local people access jobs. The project aims to help people access employment and training opportunities by overcoming transport barriers. WorkWise Officers can provide a personalised journey planning service and assistance with public transport for travelling to interviews and new jobs.
The project is now into it’s third year and is currently supported and funded by Centro, European Social Fund, Jobcentre Plus, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Buster Werkenbak and Community Transport.
Supporting the Community
The project supports the local community by increasing awareness of existing local public transport services. It addresses issues such as social exclusion - encouraging people to travel to work, outside of their immediate area, using modes of transport they may have previously felt uncomfortable using. The project also provides customers with free travel to access interviews and travel passes to get to work. This helps overcome financial barriers to accessing public transport and promotes employment stability. This is an important step to help tackle the financial problems experienced by many customers within the first few months of employment.
Eligibility Criteria
WorkWise is aimed at unemployed people who are living within specific postcode areas around Sparkhill and Chelmsley Wood. Generally those customers may be on Jobseekers Allowance or other forms of benefit; however there are exclusions to eligibility.
Journey Planning
Many people find reading timetables and planning routes for travelling to interviews and jobs very confusing. WorkWise will be able to provide the client with an illustrated step-by-step guide on the best way to travel from home to their destination and back.
Travel Passes
Clients who are eligible for WorkWise will be entitled to one-day passes for interviews and monthly passes for when they start employment. Monthly passes are issued for the first two months of continuous employment. The passes cover the whole of the West Midlands area and can be issued for any mode of public transport.
Future Outcomes and Developments
WorkWise has been a tremendous success and its achievements have been recognised both locally and nationally. It is seen as a valuable asset, not only to the community at large but also to the organisations operating within the area. WorkWise overcomes the very real issue of transport barriers when accessing interviews and jobs.
Up until October 2005 over 2100 people were provided with one-day passes to assist them in getting to interviews and over 1500 people were provided with monthly passes to access new jobs.
At present, the chief aim for WorkWise is to find support that will allow the project to be 'rolled out' to other regional jobcentres and ultimately to become integrated into the Jobcentre Plus programme on a national scale.
For general enquiries about the WorkWise initiative contact Simon Trickett on 0121 214 7128.
WorkWise in Walsall
The second phase of the West Midlands WorkWise project was launched in Walsall in January 2004, when Stephanie Hammond began her role as WorkWise Officer for Walsall. Stephanie is employed by Steps to Work and is currently based in their offices in Walsall town centre. In June 2005 a One Stop Shop, called Work on the Horizon, opened in Bloxwich, WorkWise now operates from both premises. The Walsall project is currently funded by Centro, ERDF and New Deal for Communities.
The Walsall project has also proved to be very successful, up until October 2005 over 850 local residents were assisted with monthly passes to enable them to access new jobs
For more information about WorkWise in Walsall contact Stephanie on 01922 627555
For more information on Workwise email us at: travelwise@centro.org.uk
WorkWise originally started in Nottingham after a need was identified to help unemployed people access training, interviews and jobs, without having the use of a car.
WorkWise in the West Midlands was launched in June 2003 as a two-year pilot project operating at both Chelmsley Wood and Sparkhill Jobcentres - both deprived areas in need of initiatives to help local people access jobs. The project aims to help people access employment and training opportunities by overcoming transport barriers. WorkWise Officers can provide a personalised journey planning service and assistance with public transport for travelling to interviews and new jobs.
The project is now into it’s third year and is currently supported and funded by Centro, European Social Fund, Jobcentre Plus, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Buster Werkenbak and Community Transport.
Supporting the Community
The project supports the local community by increasing awareness of existing local public transport services. It addresses issues such as social exclusion - encouraging people to travel to work, outside of their immediate area, using modes of transport they may have previously felt uncomfortable using. The project also provides customers with free travel to access interviews and travel passes to get to work. This helps overcome financial barriers to accessing public transport and promotes employment stability. This is an important step to help tackle the financial problems experienced by many customers within the first few months of employment.
Eligibility Criteria
WorkWise is aimed at unemployed people who are living within specific postcode areas around Sparkhill and Chelmsley Wood. Generally those customers may be on Jobseekers Allowance or other forms of benefit; however there are exclusions to eligibility.
Journey Planning
Many people find reading timetables and planning routes for travelling to interviews and jobs very confusing. WorkWise will be able to provide the client with an illustrated step-by-step guide on the best way to travel from home to their destination and back.
Travel Passes
Clients who are eligible for WorkWise will be entitled to one-day passes for interviews and monthly passes for when they start employment. Monthly passes are issued for the first two months of continuous employment. The passes cover the whole of the West Midlands area and can be issued for any mode of public transport.
Future Outcomes and Developments
WorkWise has been a tremendous success and its achievements have been recognised both locally and nationally. It is seen as a valuable asset, not only to the community at large but also to the organisations operating within the area. WorkWise overcomes the very real issue of transport barriers when accessing interviews and jobs.
Up until October 2005 over 2100 people were provided with one-day passes to assist them in getting to interviews and over 1500 people were provided with monthly passes to access new jobs.
At present, the chief aim for WorkWise is to find support that will allow the project to be 'rolled out' to other regional jobcentres and ultimately to become integrated into the Jobcentre Plus programme on a national scale.
For general enquiries about the WorkWise initiative contact Simon Trickett on 0121 214 7128.
WorkWise in Walsall
The second phase of the West Midlands WorkWise project was launched in Walsall in January 2004, when Stephanie Hammond began her role as WorkWise Officer for Walsall. Stephanie is employed by Steps to Work and is currently based in their offices in Walsall town centre. In June 2005 a One Stop Shop, called Work on the Horizon, opened in Bloxwich, WorkWise now operates from both premises. The Walsall project is currently funded by Centro, ERDF and New Deal for Communities.
The Walsall project has also proved to be very successful, up until October 2005 over 850 local residents were assisted with monthly passes to enable them to access new jobs
For more information about WorkWise in Walsall contact Stephanie on 01922 627555
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For more information on Workwise email us at: travelwise@centro.org.uk