Vocational Pre-Employment Co-ordinator Sue Lang, along with two young people Angel Hindle and Thomas Pemberton, attended an event at Brockholes Nature Reserve entitled ‘More Positive Together’ to celebrate two years of the innovative project which aims to support local people into employment.
The project is funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England and designed to address the needs’ of Lancashire residents who are furthest from the labour market and to help them to improve their employment prospects. The project has attracted extensive funding bringing £6m into our region.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) works with ’ More Positive Together’ and the Princes Trust to offer young people work placements via our ‘Get Into Hospitals programme. This programme targets young individuals aged 18 -30 who are looking to start their careers within the NHS.
“The young people are offered a 4-week placement within clinical or non-clinical departments,” explains Sue. “The participants are assigned a mentor for support on departments/wards. Alongside this programme participants are also supported with CV writing, interview skills and specific information related to application process to apply for vacancies within ELHT.
“Three out of every four people completing the programme have been offered employment at ELHT and as a result of the success of the programme ELHT were invited to share the young people’s journey into employment.”
Thomas Pemberton works as a Laundry assistant and Angel Hindle is a Patient Service Assistant. Both have overcome personal difficulties and fully embraced the opportunities at ELHT and are valuable members of their teams. Both Angel and Thomas told their stories to a large audience at Brockholes in order to encourage and inspire others and received a standing ovation to reward their efforts.
If any department would like to support a deserving young person on the next programme, please email Suzanne.lang@elht.nhs.uk