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Education, training and employment
We all like to learn and do new things. For some people that means getting training, going to school/college or getting a paid job or volunteer placement.
Our approach
We provide support to access education, training and employment automatically when someone signs up for our support service.
Some people who use our services have said education, training and employment has increased their self-worth and given them more confidence. Some have now even moved into paid employment with us or other organisations.
We believe that employment is part of the recovery process. We work with each person to identify what is appropriate for them, and then assist them in achieving their goals.
- Our approach is individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each person.
- We aim to provide hope for the future and good practical advice in achieving employment goals.
- We will also be there to support the people we work with if they are struggling.
- We offer a flexible, choice-led service to suit each person.
- We have a total commitment to helping people achieve the future that they want.
What we offer
We are committed to enabling people using our service to identify and achieve their personal development goals. We offer:
- 1:1 help in planning for the future
- advice about training, volunteering and paid work opportunities in local communities
- the chance to find out if service users would be financially better-off in work.
- If you are an MST service user, you can contact your support worker or a community partnership officer if you require extra help and advice. You can also read about current opportunities at MST.
To find out more about our approach, contact Karen Roberts.
Our success
We have a history of providing a number of initiatives and services to enable the successful integration into communities such as volunteering, mentoring, employment and training, community cohesion initiatives, service user involvement and research and consultancy. Some of our initiatives are detailed below.
The Refugee Learning and Education Scheme (DR LES) Project
The project has provided service users with an integrated information, advice, guidance, support and advocacy service delivered through a carefully developed and individually tailored support plan with volunteer mentors.
Since 2005, 180 refugees have enhanced and extended career opportunities and/or access to accredited education and training opportunities; improved their social skills and learned effective strategies to deal with racism, leading to an improved quality of life.
The project worked with a wide range of partners (over 100 to date) across the City of Derby to place clients onto accredited education and training courses, into work placements and into employment. In 2007, the service was expanded to delivery across three cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
Refugee integration and employment service
In 2008, we won a new regional service under contract with the Home Office to support refugees into employment. Find out more about RIES. For more information on this programme, please contact the regional office.
Volunteering programme
Our volunteer programme and strategy prioritises involving service users as volunteers to reduce isolation and gain work experience.
Currently, MST has 44 volunteers. Two of our service user volunteers have now become permanent employees, working within Metropolitan Housing Partnership.
In our refugee services for example, volunteering programmes are a great way of aiding the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the UK, providing opportunities to overcome barriers of culture and language. Those still awaiting the outcome of their asylum claim are legally unable to work and find volunteering a great way to give something back to their new communities.
As well as providing opportunities within its own offices, MST finds roles for service users with other organisations helping them to gain experience and learn new skills.
For more information on this programme, please contact Proscovia Wagaba.
