Nineteen local people celebrated completing the first Who Dares Works course held at the Lescudjack Centre in Penzance on the 14th June, as part of a programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.
Since April, participants have taken part in workshops on money management from ECCABI, cooking and wellbeing from the Cornwall Food Foundation, and team work, confidence and motivation from the Active Plus Military Veterans. All are now ready to take the next steps into work related activity and further support within Who Dares Works, supported by mentors from Pentreath and Addaction.
James Hooker, a Who Dares Works participant, said: “I have really enjoyed the course, everyone has been so supportive. It has helped me boost my confidence and team working skills and I am now looking forward to my next steps with the project, undertaking work experience in my chosen field of finance and accountancy.”
Mark Lane, Active Plus Instructor, said: “In Active Plus we know that everyone has potential and it is great to see how people benefit from the team work and confidence building of our courses. The experiences and skills of military veterans, both in the forces and as civilians, help people to help themselves through helping others.”
Speaking about the Who Dares Works project, which is part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme, Sandra Rothwell Chief Executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership said, “Congratulations to everyone involved, this is a fantastic achievement. Who Dares Works is a really important project which is part of a programme of investment helping people towards and into employment.”
Carolyn Webster, Project Manager for Who Dares Works, said: “I would like thank the Active Plus team, the project mentors and all of our great partners who have contributed to the success of the project to date. Also huge congratulations to the first group of participants who stepped up to join in and who have been absolutely brilliant.”
The Who Dares Works project is continuing with opportunities in Helston, Hayle and Penzance and St.Just in the coming months and further courses planned for St Ives and Newlyn later in the year. If you, or any of your family or friends live in West Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly are 18 or over, not working and looking for support contact Who Dares Works on 01872 300 326 or [email protected]
Who Dares Works – the £3.3 million project led by Active Plus with investment from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund –is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme. Led by Active Plus the partners are Addaction, Pentreath, Chaos, ECCABI, Cornwall Dyslexia Association, ReBuild South West, Cornwall Food Foundation, United Response, Surf Action, CRSAC, CLEAR, Gooseberry Bush, RJ Working, School of Cornish Sardines, the Phoenix Project, and Whole Again Communities.
The Building Better Opportunities programmes brings together investment from the European Social Fund and Big Lottery Fund to help people who are furthest from the labour market to overcome barriers to work. The programme promotes social and economic inclusion through training, education and work.