Working for Carers - Supporting unpaid carers with employment, education or volunteering

My name is Syeda Hussain, and I am a Employment Personal Advisor for Redbridge Carers Support Service, as part of the Working for Carers Project. The aim is to prepare and encourage unpaid Carers (aged over 25 years & unemployed/not in full time education) to consider getting into employment, education or volunteering. It is a Carer led project - Carers will set their own goals, and we will create a plan to achieve them. For example, if you are interested in volunteering, we will look at a range of opportunities based on your interests. If you are interested in finding employment, we will help you with CV writing or run a Self Employment workshop.

 There will be a series of workshops that you can choose from such as Carers rights, benefits, confidence building, CV writing and interview skills etc. There will also be one to one sessions at a time convenient for you.

The project is funded by Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund, and there is a budget to cover some expenses Carers may have such as travel and childcare/sitting in services.

My colleagues and I cover 8 Boroughs which include Newham, Redbridge, Havering, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, and Greenwich.

To be eligible you must be:

• aged 25 years and over
• Right to work and live in UK (evidence such as passport will be needed)
• Not in any paid employment or full time education (evidence such as letter from Job Centre will be needed, or Carers may be asked to sign a Self declaration form to state they are unemployed)
• Live in Newham, Redbridge, Havering, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, or Greenwich Borough
  

For further information please contact us via:

Email: s.hussain@rcss.org.uk

Tel: 0208 514 6251

Our first workshop will be on Carers Rights and Barriers to Employment. This will be held on Tuesday 23rd May, 10:30am - 12:30pm in Tower Hamlets Carer Centre. Tea & Coffee provided. Please contact us for further information.

Alternatively you can drop by our information stall on Wednesday 17th May, 12:30pm - 16:30pm in Queens Hospital.

Please note registration is to evidence you are eligible for the programme, and for reporting purposes. It does not affect your benefits in any way, and you are not obligated to find employment once you register. The aim is to prepare you for when you feel ready to return to employment, and build your confidence.