This project is co-financed by the LSC, SEEDA and the European Social Fund
SUPPORT
SERVICES
Please remember to click on text to go through
to websites e.g. where it states ‘click on website’ – just
click on that text to be taken straight through.
GETTING BACK TO WORK /BENEFITS
This section provides links to agencies for a variety of your clients:
Source: DWP http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
For your clients who are not working or
working less than 16 hours a week: check
Jobseeker's Allowance – (this
will take you to the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is a lone parent and wants
to move off benefit into work or just wants
help finding work: check
New Deal for Lone Parents (this will
now take you to the New Deal pages of the
JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 50 or over and
looking for work: check
New Deal for people aged 50 plus (this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 25 or over and
needs help looking for work: check
New Deal for people aged 25 plus (this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 18 or over but
under 25 and need help looking for work: check
New Deal for Young People (this will
now take you to the New Deal pages of the
JobCentre Plus website)
If your client currently gets a disability
or health-related benefit: check
New Deal for Disabled People (this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is an aspiring unemployed
musician: check
New Deal for Musicians (this will now take you to the New Deal
pages of the JobCentre Plus website)
This section will provide information and links on help and advice for
those clients who wish to go self employed or receive business support.
Hampshire Economic Partnership
The Hampshire Economic Partnership (HEP) which was formed in 1992 aims
to bring together business and local government in the region. The Partnership
looks to provide support to the regions economic prosperity and provide
a voice for local businesses. Recently HEP have been working with the
University of Portsmouth, University of Southampton, Southampton Institute
and the University of Winchester in order to create effective linkage
between local businesses and innovative developments within Higher Education.
Further information is available on http://www.hep.uk.com/
In terms of business start up click
here -
for a wide range of information and access to free e-bulletins on business
start up.
Click here for information
on Grants for research and development.
Click here for the website on which
you can search for grants and loans for your business
The Portsmouth
City Council web page is an excellent source of information for setting up/ running small businesses
and has links to
South Hampshire Enterprise Agencies
Business Link Wessex
The Solent Enterprise Hub
The Harbour Economic Development Forum
The University of Portsmouth
Purple Door
Portsmouth University has opened up ‘Purple
Door,’ a one
stop shop for businesses in Hampshire to get help and advice. The University
Building in Southsea offers businesses the help of academics and facilities
in order to resolve any issues and problems. Businesses can be taken
through the processes of applying for funding, and students can undertake
research on company’s behalf.
Women’s Business Ownership
Prowess is a network who supports the growth of women’s business
ownership by raising awareness and sharing good practice and information.
220 members support 100,000 women to start 10,000 new businesses each
year. Further information is available on http://www.prowess.org.uk/default.asp
Women Engineers Required
The Marine, Engineering and Manufacturing Skills Partnership (MEMS) are
looking to encourage more women to the engineering sector in order
to plug a recruitment shortage. Reports have highlighted that in the
last year the number of graduates moving into engineering have declined,
and that there are currently 50,000 women who are skilled and qualified
in science, technology and engineering but not working in the sector.
Currently, women only make up 6% of the UK Engineering workforce. MEMS
are now looking to use job brokerage schemes to encourage women into
the industry.
Business Start up Support
For women who are looking to start out, or are starting out in business,
two good sources of information are available. Women’s Wisdom is
an organisation that supports women moving into the business environment.
Further information is available on. www.womenswisdom.co.uk.
Whilst The South East Regional Women’s Enterprise encourages women
to start up businesses. Click here
Business Ownership
Prowess is a network who supports the growth of women’s business
ownership by raising awareness and sharing good practice and information.
220 members support 100,000 women to start 10,000 new businesses each
year. Further information is available here
There is also information on the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Women in Business Group on www.nhcci.co.uk.
Family Learning
Family Learning provides an opportunity for parents and carers on the
Isle of Wight to return to learning whilst supporting a child in education.
Further details are available on the website.
Support to those providing services to people from ethnic minority communities.
Helping Students Find Work
The University of Portsmouth, Southampton Solent University and local
employers have teamed up to create a mentoring scheme to help Black and
Asian students find jobs. Students from the University of Portsmouth
will benefit from the six month project, where they attend a minimum
of 4 one hour sessions run by employers from Ford Motor Company, Portsmouth
City Council, BBC and Hampshire Constabulary.
(Portsmouth News, 8th December 2005)
Interpreting and Translation
Interpreting and Translation information is available from
Interpreting and Translation Services
Havant Local Education Office
River Way
Havant
PO9 2EL
02392 441450
Working with Refugees
A website for those working with refugees has pages dedicated to helping
those working with adults and children. The children’s pages offer
advice and case studies from Early Years through to 16-19. The National
Refugee Integration Forum (NRIF) also offers advice on employment and
training for refugees. Visit www.nrif.org.uk
Back to top
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Skill: The National Bureau for students with disabilities is a charity
promoting opportunities for people with disabilities in Post 16 Education,
Training and Education across the UK. Click
here for further information.
New Deal
New Deal for Disabled People is a voluntary support programme to help
disabled people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight get back into work.
The free service helps clients improve their CV and Interview skills.
More information is available on 0800 389 0231.
College wins Disabled People’s Business
and Community Awards
South Downs College has been awarded Best Website and Best Training and
Education Organisation in the 2nd Annual Disabled People’s Business
and Community Awards for Hampshire and Isle of Wight. The award ceremony
is organised by the Southampton Centre for Independent Living, an organisation
which is run and controlled by disabled people. Criteria judges were
looking for included areas such as ease of accessibility, ease of use,
customer service and communication.
Supported Employment Services
A number of organisations offering support are also available within
Portsmouth. The Beneficial Foundation offer training schemes to prepare
disabled people for work and can be contacted on 02392 733822. Portsmouth-
based Shaw Trust are also available on 02393 876094.
In Andover, the Enham Enabling Partnership offer learning, training and
access to work for those with physical disabilities. The telephone number
for the Partnership is 01264 345800.
North Hampshire based charity, Mencap Pathway, are looking for firms
in Basingstoke, who are willing to offer job opportunities for people
with learning difficulties.
For information on childcare visit www.hants.gov.uk/childcare
or phone 0845 602 1125 for the helpline run by the Early Education and
Childcare Unit.
The following links are taken from ChildcareLink which is funded by the
Sure Start Unit and Scottish Executive as part of their national childcare
strategies. This site is developed, managed and maintained by Opportunity
Links as part of their role in running the ChildcareLink programme
The website includes information on childminders, day nurseries, out
of school care and schemes, pre-school play groups. The information produced
also indicates whether the childcare service includes pick up from local
schools.
Advisers can find information on other areas from the website also.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight
For information on childcare for the South East as a whole follow this
link. Links below take users to the specified small areas: www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp?cisid=&mapid=187
Hampshire and IOW
Childcare information for Hampshire (generally)
