SOVA -SOVA Barnsley ETE

SOVA Barnsley ETE has a number of projects based around employment, training and education which are targeted at offenders, ex-offenders and those at risk of offending. Our participants include substance/alcohol misusers and those who are homeless/in secure accommodation.

The projects offer a variety of interventions based on participant�s needs and the outcomes funders hope to achieve.

The projects try to include enrichment activities wherever funding allows in order to provide enjoyable opportunities for participants which allow them to develop social and group skills in an informal setting.

BASIC SKILLS

The Basic Skills project is funded by Doncaster College as part of OLAS provision. The Basic Skills initiative was transferred from the National Probation Service to OLAS in 2006 and we were sub-contracted by Doncaster College, the regional provider, in August 2007. The project offers Basic Skills/Skills for Life assessment, support and accreditation to offenders in the Barnsley area. This project has been further expanded by the creation of new roles � the Learning Engagement Worker and the Employment Engagement Worker. These workers support offenders to identify and engage with training and education and to identify and support them to access suitable employment opportunities. Currently training around Health and Safety, First Aid and Basic Food Hygiene is offered at all our premises. In addition, offenders can access CSCS training, Forklift Truck, Class 2 Driving and Trowel training within regional locations.

VOLUNTEERS

The funding for volunteers has been difficult to find in Barnsley. Whilst we all value the resources that can be offered by having trained volunteers/mentors within the projects, it has been impossible to fund a Volunteer Co-ordinator/Trainer post. The project staff have trained volunteers in conjunction with SOVA YOT/Bail Supervision team in Eldon Street premises. The volunteer expenses have been funded through SYOP SN which will finish in June 2007.

SYOP SN PROJECT

The original B2 SYOP SN contract was funded until September 2004. A successful bid for the second round of funding enabled the project to offer a continued service to participants until September 2005 with the possibility of further funding until December 2007. SYOP SN was founded to provide access to in-house education and training for learners who were not ready to access mainstream opportunities. Its participants � offenders, and those at risk of offending (especially drug and alcohol users) were offered in-house training around work skills and IT, and have had a �Men�s� discussion group, as well as a �women�s� group and creative writing. The project has been universally regarded as being very successful and creative in terms of its network building. Sadly, the funding for the project ends in June 2007 and so far SYOP SN have been unable to identify alternative funding.

TLM (TRANSITIONAL LABOUR MARKET) TRAINEE RECEPTIONIST

BDA accessed European Funding to provide paid work placements for people within the area who have found it difficult to gain employment. These people include long term unemployed, single parents, those with health issues and offenders. Host organisations would provide the work placement and support the trainee, and in return, BDA would pay for training and salary costs. SOVA Barnsley has had 4 Trainee Receptionists, one of whom is currently with us and 2 who have left to start full time work.

PROGRESS 2 WORK (P2W)

P2W was introduced on May 1st 2002, and was a government funded initiative designed to help substance misuse clients who are ready to move on to access existing education, training and employment opportunities. The initiative offers support around a variety of issues and barriers that the client group feels may stop them accessing traditional opportunities. P2W is a voluntary provision which has no effect on a clients benefit status, nor is it enforceable under National Standards. The provision was piloted, and then rolled out nationally. Barnsley SOVA successfully bid for the first contract and has held the contract since 2002. The project was offered a continuation of the contract and has funding until 2006.

The target group are people aged 16-64 who have had substance misuse issues but who are now stable or have undergone a detoxification process. The clients must see their substance misuse as the major barrier to accessing employment and other existing opportunities.

PROGRESS 2 WORK LINK-UP (P2W LINK-UP)

P2W Link Up was developed to extend and build on additional activities of the existing P2W, and is also funded by Job Centre Plus. The provision was rolled out on 25th November 2002 and again is a voluntary provision which doesn�t affect participant�s benefits, nor is it enforceable through National Standards. The participants on P2W Link Up are ex-offenders (both those who have served a custodial sentence and those who have served a non-custodial sentence), alcohol users and the homeless. The participants must identify their offending, alcohol use or housing status as their major barrier to employment and other opportunities.




	SOVA is a Registered Charity (No.1073877) operating as a Limited Company (No.3645143)