Millwall Community Trust (MCT) hosted Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Job Centre Plus (JCP) and local partners to our 16-24 Youth Employability & IAG Hub last Thursday at Millwall’s Lions Centre.
The trust delivers an onsite designated 16-24 Youth Employability and IAG support HUB for unemployed young people but also via its various programmes also supports all ages and backgrounds free of charge.
Millwall Community Trust’s Employability & IAG Hub hosts job fairs and employability sessions for young people aged 16-24 to get into further education or employment.
It is run in partnership with DWP Job Centre Plus and other local partners to provide opportunities for young people in our local area.
This support includes delivery of targeted pre-employability programmes, as well as hosting and delivery of targeted employment recruitment events and employability workshops and bootcamps in partnership with local employer and training providers, including most recently twice hosting one of Lewisham and Southwark's largest ever Employment Job Fair events at the Lions centre in partnership with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) local JCPs, Construction Skills Centre and Groundswell Project.
The event started at 10am where DWP JCP staff spoke to MCT’s Education department and Employability department Manager John Scarborough on the progress and successes of the Youth Employability & IAG Hub.
Following this, local employer and training Millwall Youth HUB partners joined and spoke about their success stories working in partnership of Millwall Community Trust and the different and beneficial nature of accessing spaces and engaging young people away from local Job centre environments.
MCT have had many success stories from the Youth Employability& IAG Hub, and participants spoke to staff about their journeys and how the Hub has supported them to gaining employment or further education, as well as improve their confidence, self esteem and mental health and well-being.
The Homewood Group in partnership with MCT delivered a direct into employment recruitment event and supported testing event for roles into the Public Services and Cleaning industry.
CBW Staffing Solutions recruitment agency and Runway Training ran a Training Course drop in and recruitment agency and sign-up, and Millwall FC delivered onsite stewarding and security recruitment event.
There was also an MCT Education, Mentoring and Sports Coaching recruitment event with all participants hearing from MCT staff coaches and their journeys as well as being able to apply.
To finish off what had been a great day, staff headed over to Millwall FC’s stadium, The Den to get a photo pitch side further cementing a great partnership between all involved.
John Scarborough, MCT’s Education & Employability Manager said: “Fantastic day again at the Millwall Youth HUB here at the MCT’s Lion centre.
“To have a purpose built designated HUB for the local community has enabled us to really make ground breaking work with unemployed young people and more broadly those requiring any type of support from employment and training, to housing, health and well-being and mental health support.
“We would not be able to this without our key Employers and partners who have offered their time and support along with the DWP local JCPs to create an alternative and aspirational space for young people away from the job centre.
“MCT’s Employment department and the various programmes within it has more than tripled in size and scope in the past 18 months which is a real credit to the hard work and dedication of the staff and our partner agency support.”
Clair Petit, Engagement Lead at Runway Training said: “Thursday’s partnership meeting was great!
“For Runway, this particular meeting really cemented that being involved in MWCT community hub’s vision and purpose allows us all to share ideas, work in collaboration with education/work journeys and all be successful in our specialisms adding value, supporting and mentoring Young adults to short, medium- and long-term success.
“It was a great chance for the JCP to see just how we all work together and the impact this has on young people.
Gemma Fox, Employment Engagement Manager at GoodPeople added: “It was great to meet with the DWP and limited stakeholders who share them same vision.
“The DWP are engaged and listening to our daily experience and taking this onboard.
“Creating a hub of partnerships and opportunities whilst working collaboratively is key.”
Duane Ramsay, Contract and Social Value Manager at Homewood Solutions said: “The event was great, Homewood Solutions hosted an event in collaboration with Millwall Community Trust and DWP, this event was helping local people, focused on 16-24 year-olds from both boroughs, Lewisham and Southwark.
“There was also a stewarding event, ran by Millwall Community Trust and although the two events were separate they merged together.
“People came to Millwall Community Trust and left with jobs and that’s fantastic!
“We also had a steering group meeting and we looked at ways in which we can improve what we’re doing.
“All involved in Millwall Community Trust’s Employability & IAG Hub gave their feedback to DWP Job Centre Plus on how we could be even better. They wanted recommendations and feedback on how they can improve, I was grateful to be able to speak to them and it was such a fantastic event!”
