Reading Voluntary Action is excited to share that the Parent Employment Wellbeing project started on Monday 4 October, and will be delivered until September 2022 by Anna Chapman, RVA’s Schools and Parent Engagement Officer.  This project first ran from July 2020 to July 2021 where 39% of the people on the project gained paid employment, 43% started accredited courses or unaccredited training, 21% started volunteering, 86% improved their confidence, 69% engaged in searching and applying for suitable paid work, and 52% received invitations to attend interviews.

The focus of the project is to support parents towards and into training, courses, voluntary work and paid employment while considering improving their wellbeing.  Anna listens to individual parents and discusses their needs, ability and aspirations with them.  She offers non-judgemental, confidential information, advice and support to explore their options and opportunities including signposting to organisations and websites providing other services.

Objectives are agreed with parents to help improve  confidence, independence, social inclusion and employability.  Assistance with constructing and updating CVs, cover and speculative letters, application forms, and letters of disclosure as well as help with sourcing suitable courses, training, volunteering opportunities, vacancies and career paths is also available.  Please follow this link for more information: www.rva.org.uk/the-parent-employment-wellbeing-project and share with anyone who would like to know more.

All support is free and provided on a one-to-one basis with Anna.  To be eligible for the project parents need to be:

• Over 16 years old
• Have the right to live and work in the UK
• Have a National Insurance number
• Not be in any kind of paid employment.

This project is funded by the European Social Fund and The Education and Skills Funding Agency.  To find out more, please contact Anna Chapman by emailing anna.chapman@rva.org.uk or telephoning 07485 327949.