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Building Better Opportunities

Our Building Better Opportunities (BBO) team work with customers, aged over 19, who are the furthest away from the securing employment to break down barriers and support them into work.

We believe that what makes us so successful within the partnership is that we address the whole person and offer person-centred coaching.  Plans are bespoke to each person and we use a range of resources to achieve great results.

You can find out more about the team and the support they offer by using the links below or by contacting:

Lisa Harris - BBO Officer
Tel: 07918 765751
Email: lisa.harris@severnsidehousing.co.uk

Janet Cross - BBO Officer
Tel: 07918 776705
Email:  janet.cross@severnsidehousing.co.uk

What we do

  • We offer individual support with CV writing, job applications and interview skills.
  • We can signpost to mental health professionals, accredited training courses and other activities to improve physical and mental wellbeing and raise self-esteem.
  • We work alongside other support teams in Severnside, including Sustain, employment and money advice and learning programme teams.

Who we are

  • BBO Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is made up of 21 partners, led by Landau to deliver Building Better Opportunities' provision in the area between January 2017 and March 2022.
  • BBO is jointly funded by the European Social Fund and The Big Lottery fund to tackle the root cause of poverty, promote social inclusion, and drive local jobs and growth.
  • We work with people who are experiencing multiple barriers to gain new skills and develop confidence through our intensive personalised support which equips them with the abilities needed towards and into employment.

Who we work with

  • We work with people from all walks of life including mental health concerns, addiction, ex-offenders, homelessness, physical and mental disabilities and transgender.  Our aim is one of inclusivity and diversity.
  • We offer home visits and appointments at other venues if needed, but most of our work is delivered through our Brassey Road office in Shrewsbury. This cuts down on travel time and expenditure as our office is central to Shrewsbury and easy to get to by public transport.

How we work

We invite you to an initial 90 minute sign up appointment which is crucial to your success.  This involves:

  • Completing an Annex H questionnaire, which covers your right to work in the UK;
  • A review of all documents;
  • Recognising possible barriers into work;
  • Identifying support needs; and
  • Completing a Personal Employment Plan.

We use your completed forms and information gathering to draw up a progress plan of aims and objectives, which is underpinned by skills/courses requirement, mental health support, CV, cover letters, volunteer work and placements, job searching, speculative CV, interview techniques, etc.

We don't shy away from mental health as around 40% of our customers have mental health concerns.  We use a ‘fusion model’ which:

  1. Seeks to address any mental health concerns and signpost where appropriate to psychological services, floating support, Mind and Reconnect, along with Landau's Taking Charge of your Life and Through the doorway cookery courses; whilst also
  2. Working intensively with our customers to get them ready for work using training and skills agencies such as SCAT, TCAT, NCS and County training for accredited courses, CV cover letter creation, job searching, volunteering, work placements and interview techniques.

The two elements come together, ensuring our customers are mentally ready, appropriately skilled and have the necessary experience to not only to move into employment but to stay in work.

 

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Severnside Housing

Severnside House, Brassey Road, Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 7FA
Registered as a Charitable Community Benefit Society (8084)
Registered with the Regulator of Social Housing (LH4325)
VAT Number: 254048024