Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) and Liverpool City Council have launched a new scheme to help residents gain sustainable training and employment.
The two organisations have joined forces to create Liverpool Mutual In Work, which will offer people in LMH homes and neighbourhoods the opportunity to access advice, support, training and jobs.
The partnership is between LMH – the city’s largest housing association – and the council’s Liverpool In Work employment support service, its Adult Learning Service and Youth Contract Team.
By covering three service areas, residents aged 16 upwards will benefit.
They will receive one-on-one mentoring, be given help to remove barriers preventing them from being employed and be matched to appropriate apprenticeships, training schemes and jobs.
Preparing CVs, interview skills and techniques, funding for training or specialist equipment, access to work clubs, IT training and signposting to related training and employment support services will be on offer.
To ensure the scheme delivers sustainable training and jobs, residents going through the scheme will be tracked and given follow-on support for six months.
Five LMH tenants will be trained to become learning champions to work with other tenants and offer support.
A mobile solution will also be provided with LMH’s digital inclusion vehicle and Adult Learning Services’ IT bus touring communities to offer advice and guidance.
An aim of the scheme is to engage with LMH tenants’ and residents’ associations and establish digital hubs where demand is high.
Liverpool Mutual In Work, which was launched at the Adult Learning Centre in Park Road, Toxteth yesterday (22 January), will operate from the council’s existing adult learning centres.
LMH Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said: “The launch of the partnership is a great boost for tenants and residents living in our communities across the city.
“By working with the council we are able to share experience, networks, access and resources for the benefit of people looking to gain new skills and work.
“There is a big focus on helping young people in some of the city’s most disadvantaged areas and we are also concerned about our older residents who are really suffering the impacts of the welfare reforms.
“Liverpool Mutual in Work is a crucial step in our efforts to create balanced communities that inspire residents.
“Establishing learning champions is going to be extremely important because peer support is a proven formula for success when encouraging people into apprenticeships, training and jobs.”
Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills at Liverpool City Council, Cllr Nick Small, said: “Without the right advice, help, training and skills, residents in our city will not be able to command sustainable careers that will help them lead healthier, more fulfilled lives.
“This partnership sees us and LMH pooling our expertise so more people have greater opportunities.
“Liverpool Mutual In Work is a complete service. People will have barriers removed, training and work opportunities identified, helped to win the work and retain it and then supported for six months.
“By offering this service, we are making it as easy as possible for people to find work.”
Cabinet Member for Housing at Liverpool City Council, Cllr Ann O’Byrne, said: “Housing’s role is much more than just building homes for people to live in; it’s about changing people’s outlook and the fabric of our neighbourhoods.
“LMH has a proven record of engaging with its tenants and creating thriving communities and we need more of these across Liverpool.”
