Building Better Opportunities: Getting Cumbria to Work

South Cumbria business supports BBO GCtW project

A South Cumbria training business – Skills Shop Limited – is playing its part to help people facing multiple and complex barriers to move towards employment. The Barrow-based company ran a successful face-to-face Emergency First Aid at Work course for BBO GCtW participants last year and has since responded swiftly to the challenges posed by the pandemic by creating and delivering a bespoke online Conflict Management course. This session has allowed BBO GCtW participants to continue to learn and develop skills despite the lockdown which not only improves their employability, but also their personal development.

Twelve BBO GCtW participants accessed the course and all successfully complete and passed. It has enhanced participants’ communication skills and their ability to problem solve, especially in circumstances they might come across in a workplace environment. Participants attending the course reported a sense of accomplishment and noted improved confidence in dealing with challenging situations. For the full story read the attached case study.

Getting Cumbria to Work: Barrow and South Lakeland (GCtW) is a Building Better Opportunities (BBO) project that serves the local authority areas of South Lakeland and Barrow. This programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund (ESF) who are co-investing in local projects tackling the root causes of worklessness, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. It is one of three projects in Cumbria being funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery, through the National Lottery Community Fund and is led by Cumbria CVS.

BBO GCtW aims to support and work with individuals who are facing multiple and complex barriers to employment and who are furthest removed from the labour market. It will help them to move towards and into employment by supporting them to play a greater, more productive role in their communities, demonstrate increased skills and confidence and be much more likely to consider employment or volunteering as a viable prospect.