The City Fringe Partnership (CFP) is dedicated to providing residents with access to jobs and new skills. Our programmes concentrate on working with unemployed residents in the City Fringe in order to assist them to gain skills that will support them into employment.

Between 2003 and 2006 the Partnership developed and managed a major training and employment initiative on behalf of the LDA called ‘Pathways to Jobs’ in conjunction with our activities across our business sectors.

Following the success of the initial programme, Pathways to Jobs 2 is a mix of training and employment support to assist unemployed beneficiaries that are furthest from the labour market. It will take place in the City Fringe boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Islington and Camden and will be again closely linked to industry sectors that operate in the locality.

Beneficiaries will gain vocational skills that reflect the needs of the local labour market, alongside soft skills to support their transition into employment.

The impact of the programme will include the reduction of unemployment for people from key target groups in the City Fringe area. In particular, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (65% of the total number of beneficiaries), women (54%) and disabled groups (33%).

The City Fringe Partnership has commissioned 7 projects which will run between October 2007 and March 2008:

Access to Employment
Access to Employment - 020 7253 3264
This outreach project will work with unemployed people within their own community and sign-post vocational training providers. It will help 120 people to match their skills to appropriate jobs, provide an extensive 1-to-1 job search and assist with CVs, covering letters and application forms as well as practice interviews. It will also directly help at least 35 people into employment.

Employment Pathways
Talent - 01642 266 168
Employment Pathways will provide employability support and bespoke job preparation for 125 beneficiaries across the City Fringe, in particular in ‘harder to reach’ communities. The target is also to assist at least 70 people into sustainable employment across a range of employment sectors.

Fast Train to Work
The Camden Society - 020 7485 8177
This project focuses on core skills and employability training for disabled beneficiaries in the Health & Social Care sector. It will provide an Introduction to Health and Social Care as well as Health and Safety at Work, Moving and Handling at Work, Basic Food Hygiene and Basic First Aid courses.

Jobs in Mind
St James’ House - 020 7428 8672
Jobs in Mind is a project that addresses the specific needs of local residents with mental health disabilities and provides vocational and skills assessment, training in job search skills, personal development, assertiveness, mental health awareness / condition management, as well as how to financial management. Beneficiaries are assisted to identify and apply for suitable employment opportunities.

Skillsmatch
London Borough of Tower Hamlets - 020 7364 0611
Set up specifically for Tower Hamlets residents, Skillsmatch is a week-long period of training either followed by a 6-8 week work placement or by intensive employment support to enhance the employment prospects of 75 local job seekers. The main programme works towards helping residents access jobs within the Financial & Professional Services sector, with a smaller contingent securing qualifications and job entry in the Construction sector.

The Whole Thing
London Borough of Islington - 020 7527 4801
This project provides a full route into work for those residents often labelled ‘hardest to reach’ including young people (16-19), long-term unemployed, those with low skills, or disabled people and incapacity benefit recipients. It comprises five main elements - outreach at a range of local venues (including estates, health centres and community organisations); information advice and guidance; vocational, employability and customised training; job search support; and job brokerage - with the aim that 70 people will be directly assisted into employment.

From Playground to Payslip
Women Like Us – 020 7281 6522
Exclusively for female residents this project will overcome barriers to employment for 50 unemployed women with children in the City Fringe area and place 15 into employment. Beneficiaries will be contacted through local primary schools and the programme will be tailored to individual requirements. The 4-6 month project will include an individual action plan, personal skills development as well as confidence-building and work-readiness training through CV clinics and advice from community partners on issues such as childcare, IT training and benefits. The project will also provide business start-up training, including workshops on raising finance, marketing and tax issues.

Each project is managed on behalf of the City Fringe Partnership by individual project delivery partners (as above). If you are interested in further details please contact the individual delivery partners directly.