 ASHA means hope. This holistic, culturally sensitive programme has been launched in order to give ethnic minority women who are economically inactive a chance to gain the confidence and skills necessary to enter the labour market. The programme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. The primary target customer group for the ASHA-HOPE project are:
non-working partners (Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Somalian, especially) who are not in contact with Jobcentre Plus services, who perceive themselves as being in a low-income households and are, in their own right, not in receipt of the following benefits: Jobseekers Allowance (individually or as part of a Joint Claim), Income Support or Incapacity Benefit.
Barriers to employment will be tackled head on – benefits of the programme include childcare and travel costs, and the delivery of the programme respects each participant’s religion and culture. With individually tailored routes, people can take advantage of a range of activities. We are providing a comprehensive range of job-focused services which can be adapted around your clients individual support needs. Our services comprise of the following:
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One2one job support sessions
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CV Support
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Interview Skills Advice
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Career Guidance
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Confidence Building
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Unlimited Internet Access for Job search activities
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Individual mentoring
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Assistance with the set up of personal bank accounts
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Direct and close links with Local and National Employers
Activities in detail:
Basic and key skills / ESOL
These aspects of the programme will be provided by the North London ITEC/Community Systems.
Bite-sized learning
Under the teaching arm of local community partners, clients can pick up skills that are practical and valuable for day-to-day life or enterprise and employment, such as child-minding, and food and hygiene classes. There will also be information sessions and courses aimed at confidence and motivation boosting. There will also be work tasters and work placements.
The full range of bite-sized provision is as follows:
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Lifestyle classes – diet, family planning, etc
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Childminding classes
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Health and safety
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Sewing classes
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Hair and beauty
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Fashion design and textile
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Jewellery making
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Henna classes
Job matching / employer engagement
ProDiverse will provide a job brokerage service, facilitating the link between the client and local employment. ProDiverse formally registers clients and selects appropriate candidates. There will be identification of suitable employment or work placement, and information on self-employment. The role of ProDiverse is to match possible vacancies. Once placed in employment, ongoing support is readily available.
Self-employment support/ training / Asian business links
click here to see which boroughs will benefit from the programme
ASHA-HOPE is very much a project by the people for the people. The idea was borne of the increasingly apparent necessity for the provision of local, community-based employment for members of the community – particularly Bangladeshi and Pakistani women, who are often inactive in the labour market. This is an issue-based endeavour catering to the needs and disadvantages faced by those most affected, as well as noting their welfare.
For more information, please contact:
Marva Haynes, Project Manager
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ProDiverse(UK)Ltd Head Office
43A, Church Street, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6AJ
Tel: 0208 366 9700/2574
Fax: 0208 366 7017
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