Celebration Event in Black Country

A4e in the Black Country, West Midlands have held a celebration event to mark the first year of providing Launch Pad training to lone parents, carers and partners.

The event was held in the Walsall office with special invitees from the customers, employers and Job Centre Plus advisors.

The employers were given the opportunity to talk about why they decided to get involved with providing work placements and how doing so had impacted on their businesses. They all found that having an A4e Launch Pad customer on placement was a positive experience for their staff as well as our customer.

It was remarked how A4e customers had displayed a positive attitude to work, good work ethics and were able to balance their home and work life. Many of the customers, who had placements in charity shops have remained volunteering and are now being trained in retail management often being left to run the shop.

Others were placed in many businesses in the Black Country and have been offered employment as a result of their placements. Over twenty individuals have gained employment in total including four in Debenhams, who are A4e’s main placement providers in Walsall. Others have decided to enter further education to improve their qualifications.

The JCP Advisors all said they had seen a difference in the customers after attending Launch Pad, even if they had not gained employment. They saw a rise in confidence, self esteem and attitude to job searching. They also saw a positive attitude to acknowledging the skills each customer had. They have made so many referrals for Launch Pad that there is now a waiting list in Walsall and West Bromwich.

The customers spoke about their experiences before, during and after Launch Pad. One customer didn’t speak for the first two days on the course but attended the celebration event and presented her experiences in front of people she had never met.

All the customers said the same things about life before Launch Pad. How boring it was, how depressed they felt. They all said how much they had enjoyed their time on Launch pad and didn’t realise how much they had to offer until they had been on the course. They spoke about their feelings of being happy to go to work each morning and putting on the uniform for their respective employer really made them proud of themselves.

Everyone felt that attending Launch Pad had really improved their lives and they now had a lot to offer their families and could see a positive future for themselves. Two customers were able to say they had just been promoted in their business.

All invitees were given the chance to ask questions, most of which were aimed at the customers, who were able to answer without hesitation.
It was great to see the customers really holding their own and talking with real pride in their achievements and the benefits of having attended Launch Pad.

Sue Hayward Trainer

Black Country, West Midlands.