Creating opportunities
Improving prospects
We recognise that to make our neighbourhoods great places to live, we need to help people achieve their aspirations and improve their prospects. Since its launch, our Progress Futures service has engaged with 1,394 customers and helped 506 of them into employment, education, and training. In addition to the positive outcomes for individuals, the service contributes to the economic prosperity of our communities.
During the year, we gave support to 306 customers. So far, 179 have secured employment, gained access to training or education, or are actively job searching. Our initiatives provided all these individuals with essential skills, increased confidence, and support on their journey to employment. We achieved a significant 148% increase in our customer outcomes in 2020/21 compared to the previous year.
In 2020/21, we received 205 referrals through either our frontline services or from individuals themselves. An additional 101 came from local job centres. Progress Futures has helped the Group recruit 23 people into apprenticeships, including a Progress Futures administrator, electrician, joiner, customer service assistant, and community safety assistant.
We have also offered support to over 702 people through community-based job clubs, both online and in person. We have continued to use the outcome STAR, a customer satisfaction tool, to help us measure the impact of the Progress Futures service on customers' wellbeing. We take readings at the initial meeting, at six-monthly intervals, or when the customer achieves a positive outcome.
To date, we have completed 228 initial STAR surveys with Progress Futures customers, with 123 progressing to a second assessment. The surveys give us an indication of how the service is performing from a customer's perspective. Approximately 80% of customers indicated an overall positive impact on their skills and wellbeing.
Other work this year includes delivery of two European Union funded projects:
- Age of Opportunity, which supports people over 50 into employment
- More Positive Together 2, which supports anyone in Lancashire from 16-67 years into employment. Due to the success of the first phase of More Positive Together last year, we secured further funds to extend the project (MPT2) until December 2021.
We supported 306 customers, of which 179 secured employment, gained access to training or education, or are actively job searching.
We are participating in the government's Kickstart Scheme, creating 28 fully paid jobs for six months to help 16-24 year-olds get the work experience they need to progress in their careers.
Having won the South Ribble Borough Council 'Business in the Community' award at the beginning of 2020, Progress Futures has strengthened their presence in the locality. We have submitted an Expression of Interest to extend the More Positive Together 2 project for another two years from January 2022 until December 2023. Should this be successful, we will continue to reach out to even more of our tenants and local communities.
We are participating in the government's Kickstart Scheme, creating 28 fully paid jobs for six months to help 16-24 year-olds get the work experience they need to progress in their careers.
We offered support to over 702 people through community-based job clubs.
We secured further funds to extend the More Positive Together 2 project until December 2021.
We have committed to paying a living wage for all placements, and 21 vacancies are now live, with a further seven to come in Autumn 2021. We carried out a robust promotional campaign on social media, including the Group launching an Instagram account to target the age group. We also leafleted every one of our households in the locality with a 16-24-year-old living at the property.
Despite Covid-19 challenges, we have continued to run our training courses and job clubs safely online. We submitted several successful bids for digital equipment for customers to undertake training online and job search activities.
Meet Maria
Maria moved to England from the Dominican Republic in 2012 to pursue a better and safer life. Maria became a Progress Housing Group tenant in March 2018, shortly after giving birth to her two daughters.
Maria is a single parent and receives Universal Credit. Her coach at the jobcentre talked to her about the Kickstart Scheme, but she wasn't sure what it entailed. After falling into arrears and experiencing financial difficulty, Maria was referred to Progress Futures to help her find a job and earn some extra money.
Through the Kickstart Scheme, Maria is now working in an office in the U.K. for the first time. The role has helped her to build her confidence in speaking in English. The Progress Futures team has helped her develop her skills, helped her with her C.V., and encouraged her to believe in herself. Maria says, 'Progress Futures and the Kickstart Scheme have allowed me to believe in myself.'
Meet Jason
Jason is 19 years old and lives with his mum, a tenant of Progress Housing Group. Jason left Runshaw College following his further education studies. He was employed in a warehouse temporarily over the Christmas season in 2019. The position there came to an end, and he began receiving Universal Credit.
Jason self-referred to Progress Futures in March 2021, after he received information about roles Progress Housing Group were advertising under the government's Kickstart Scheme.
Jason was concerned that there was a gap in his CV after he had finished his temporary Christmas role at United Parcel Service. He wanted to build his skills and work experience to make him a stronger candidate for the estate caretaker Kickstart position. Progress Futures Officer, Cathy, helped Jason reach his goal and prepare by assisting with interview preparation, conducting mock interviews, and helping him to search and apply for local warehousing work.
Jason was offered work in a local warehouse in Leyland and other positions, which added to his experience and boosted his CV. Jason was then delighted to be offered the Kickstart estate caretaker role at the end of May 2021. He says, 'Progress Futures helped me write up my CV and supported me with interview advice.'
"Progress Futures has brought back my confidence and the happy-go-lucky guy I used to be. I have a smile back on my face! I was out of work for six months struggling with depression, but I have now managed to get a full-time job I enjoy doing a role I did 27 years ago."
M, Leyland.
Projects receiving funding focused on the health and wellbeing of communities, including a community garden and craft projects.
Community Investment Fund
Our Community Investment Fund was set up in 2009 to provide funds for projects and activities to support our communities. This year, the Community Investment Fund supported local community groups and projects by investing £163,539, and as part of Progress Housing Group's ongoing commitment to community development, it was also used as an emergency fund to help support people and communities impacted by Covid-19.
Some of the projects receiving funding focused on the health and wellbeing of communities, including a community garden and craft projects. We awarded over £17,365 to community projects and charities helping people affected by Covid-19.