Creating Employment Through Strategic Partnerships

CHIP is our aligned charity to ensure that social value dividends are delivered as a direct result of CHIC’s asset management and procurement activities.

One of CHIP’s commitments is to work with and financially support Local Employment Groups (LEGs) in the main regions of CHIC’s active members, to secure permanent employment for people who are disadvantaged or distant from the workplace, including:

• NEETS
• Individuals living with disabilities
• Ex-offenders
• Modern Day Slavery victims
• Homelessness
• Older People
• Ethnic and Racial Minorities
• Ex-armed Forces personnel

BOUNCE BACK – A CHIP PARTNER STORY

We are delighted to provide a report on the outcomes of the initial funding agreement in 2022 between Bounce Back and CHIP. Bounce Back is a Charity and Social Enterprise focussed on training and unemployment for ex-offenders.

BOUNCE BACK RECEIVED FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT TEN INDIVIDUALS AND THEY HAVE TOLD CHIP:

Our work has always been driven by our belief that sustainable employment allows participants to lift themselves out of poverty, moving to a place of financial inclusion rather than exclusion – often a catalyst for reoffending. To ensure the sustainability of our participants’ employment, our Case Managers closely track their progress at regular intervals. We are happy to report that three of our participants have sustained their role for over 6 months. With ongoing support including career guidance our participants can focus on their employment and recognise their value. This, in turn, encourages them to pursue promotions, additional responsibilities, or seek out roles that enable them to develop in their careers. We are always so proud when our participants reach this milestone and do all we can to support them beyond the 6-month mark.

We are also happy to report that seven participants have completed training with courses including CSCS, Painting & Decorating and our City & Guilds Digital Badges, also sponsored by CHIP. Through detailed skills analysis participants identify which skills they want to progress and build upon. Reflecting this, their Case Manager will help source suitable training opportunities, both internally and with our external training partners. The seven participants undertook training that helped them progress into employment or has equipped them with the skills and qualifications to progress within their careers.

PARTICIPANT’S STORY

SCOTT

Scott is a participant with neurodivergent needs who had a previous career in TV production. With a passion for technology and arts Scott was keep to upskill and apply his previous experience in his career going forward. Scott had some fears around working with new people and conventional learning environments due to issues at school with bullying. He struggled to make eye contact and close contact with other people made him feel nervous.

Scott attended our 1-week CSCS course and whilst initially he was very reserved and kept himself separate from the rest of the learning group, his Case Manager alongside the tutor worked closely alongside Scott to put things in place to make him feel more comfortable and monitored his progress. Scott passed his CSCS with flying colours and is now engaging with Bounce Back’s Level 1 Painting & Decorating course. He has also enrolled onto our Microsoft Embrace Mentoring programme, where he’ll be assisted with his CV, employability skills and will also connect with Microsoft employment pathways to help nurture his creative ambitions.

MORE ABOUT BOUNCE BACK

Bounce Back works with people both inside and outside of prison who may be at risk of or have a history of offending and substance use. We are focussed on supporting people to change the direction of their lives and reduce offending, to shape a society where everyone can look forward to a bright future.  We firmly believe everyone has the ability to change and should be given the opportunity to do so.

At Bounce Back we do this by providing people with support every step of the way, for as long as they need – everything they need to be work-ready, apply for and sustain a job.

We offer training and skills that employers want and need now and in the future, that can lead to good jobs with prospects. Find out more at: https://www.bouncebackproject.com/