Residents of Stainforth and across Doncaster have been given support, inspiration and access to employers and wellbeing organisations during Learning for Life Week’s Work and Wellbeing event.
Delivered as part of City of Doncaster Council’s Pathways to Work agenda, the event marked the culmination of a five-day Learning for Life Week with activities running across community venues from Monday 26 January, with four days of free learning opportunities followed by the Work and Wellbeing event on Friday 30 January.
Learning for Life Week brings the Remake Learning Days concept to hyper-local areas and is specifically designed to provide engaging and inspiring opportunities to residents aged 16 and over who are not in work, to help them build confidence, develop skills, inspire their curiosity and explore pathways back into work, training or further learning.
Activities were delivered in fun, interactive ways by a wide range of voluntary sector organisations, community groups, businesses and learning providers, working alongside City of Doncaster Council and making use of local community assets. Across the week, residents were able to take part in training and employer taster sessions, professional development opportunities, outdoor learning, sport and wellbeing sessions, and more.
Among those attending the event were several representatives from the Unity development team, who spoke with residents about onsite progress and the long-term employment opportunities being created.
Helen McLoughlin, director of Waystone Hargreaves Land, said: “We were delighted to take part in what was a very collaborative and positive event for the local area. There is a great deal of development activity currently onsite at Unity which is creating many new employment roles within companies including McDonald’s, Starbucks and Home Bargains, with many more employment opportunities set to come forward as the scheme develops over the coming years.”
Sue Farmer, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said: “Learning for Life Week aimed to give giving residents in Stainforth the confidence, skills and encouragement to explore new possibilities for their future. As a key part of the week, the Work and Wellbeing event brought together brilliant local organisations, employers and support services, creating a space where people could discover opportunities and take practical steps towards work, training or further learning.”
The Unity team was joined by colleagues from City of Doncaster Council, including Ambition Coach, Sarah Bainbridge and Employment Manager, Michelle Munslow who is leading the Unity Academy, a new initiative which is funded by Waystone Hargreaves Land through a Section 106 agreement and delivered in partnership with Business Doncaster.
Michelle Munslow said: “The Unity Academy has been established to support employers at Unity with their recruitment and training needs, while promoting job and skills opportunities to local residents.
“The recent Learning for Life Week was a great success, inspiring new interests and helping local people consider future career options all in a supportive setting. City of Doncaster Council is inviting learning providers, community organisations, sports groups and businesses to take part in future Learning for Life Weeks and encourages interested parties to get in touch.”
The event received high-profile support, with Ed Miliband, Labour MP for Doncaster North, attending to show his backing for the initiative and its focus on supporting local people into work.
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