Become a WorkCentre Facilitator in your Area
Would you like to work with us to set-up and support new WorkCentres in your area?
We are looking for 6 additional Facilitators across the UK and Republic of Ireland to help with the expansion and delivery of our WorkCentre network. You’ll earn a daily rate as one of our accredited WorkCentre Facilitators. Comprehensive training provided.
Please send your details/CV to [email protected]
Would you like to work with us to set-up and support new WorkCentres in your area?
We are looking for 6 additional Facilitators across the UK and Republic of Ireland to help with the expansion and delivery of our WorkCentre network. You’ll earn a daily rate as one of our accredited WorkCentre Facilitators. Comprehensive training provided.
Please send your details/CV to [email protected]
workCentres
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A WorkCentre is a facility where local people learn new ways to find work, earn income, build their careers and add value to their community or organisation.
Individuals can access the full package of Work It Out! support - training, individual advice, ongoing mentoring and practical help - to enable them to build their income, find work and create a better future. The WorkCentres are usually equipped with computers and coffee! They are a practical and welcoming place to meet, support and help one another. Instead of sitting at home on their own (or at their desks), people have a place and a positive purpose to meet - to create their workpieces, learn new skills, develop projects and build businesses. We are currently delivering a range of local WorkCentres across the UK and the Republic of Ireland to support local people in finding work, earn income and build their careers. WorkCentres are available in three main formats: 1. To support the unemployed, 2. To leverage the expertise of the underemployed (e.g. Local communities often come together with women returners, self-employed, graduates, those recently retired, part-time employees, etc to share experience and build local capacity), 3. To develop employees (e.g. some Local Authorities and Businesses use this approach to boost innovation and creativity), |
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Our Partners
WorkCentres are currently being operated across the UK and the Republic of Ireland in conjunction with Government Agencies, Local Authorities, Economic development partnerships, Businesses, Charities, Training bodies, Community Groups, Faith based organisations and Prisons.
The latest WorkCentres ...
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Training and developing Young Adult Carers 14-24 - Carers Trust UK.
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Supporting the Community - Banbridge Community Club
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Leveraging expertise in the community - Clonmel Community Resource Centre, ROI. - click here
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Invest in Your Future programme for all Council Staff - Stroud District Council, UK.
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What is Under-employment?
Under-employment affects those who are unemployed, students and graduates, mothers and fathers at home, those returning to work after a break, those semi retired, freelancers, part-time workers, and yes, even those in a full-time job – who want to do more. Under-employment is not about being busy for many of us are incredibly busy. It's about our personal effectiveness and achieving all that we believe we should. So, in a way I think that we are all under-employed. We can all utilise our skills, talents and expertise more effectively to fulfil what we are capable of. We can be better if we work collaboratively to help and support each other - combining and leveraging our respective expertise, energy and experience. The WorkCentre then is an important framework whereby all of those who want to achieve more, do more, be more or create more can come together with others who are positive and ambitious. Let's talk about setting up a WorkCentre in your area ..... |
Introduction to WorkCentres (Free introductory session)
Would you like to find out how we can help you to set-up a local WorkCentre for your organisation or area. Last week in the Midlands I met with Local Authority personnel, Work Club leaders, DWP staff and the local College to explore how we could bring a fresh approach to tackling long term unemployment locally. I'm happy to schedule a presentation session with you and your colleagues if you would like to explore the possibility of setting up a WorkCentre in your area. |
The Initial Workshop
Typically all potential participants are invited to join the local WorkCentre following a three hour initial Workshop. This is usually open to all and gives a first hand insight into the approach and way of working.....
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Overview
WorkCentres provide:
- a friendly and welcoming place to meet colleagues and build new supportive relationships.
- sustained opportunities to uncover and build upon each participant strengths, passions and experience - and help them to create a series of workpieces (work projects)
- a focal point and supportive space for skills development, idea creation ,opportunity sharing and encouraging enterprise.
- opportunities for participants to develop income generation skills by e.g. working on projects, creating items and selling services.
- examples of success, role models and learning that can be replicated by others.
WorkCentres a deliver a new ethos based upon the following principles:
- Working collectively to share knowledge, ideas and experience in small workgroups
- Supporting others and offering to help
- Being proactive - asking for help and not being stuck
- Being successful every day in moving their workpieces forward - it's all about small steps.
- a friendly and welcoming place to meet colleagues and build new supportive relationships.
- sustained opportunities to uncover and build upon each participant strengths, passions and experience - and help them to create a series of workpieces (work projects)
- a focal point and supportive space for skills development, idea creation ,opportunity sharing and encouraging enterprise.
- opportunities for participants to develop income generation skills by e.g. working on projects, creating items and selling services.
- examples of success, role models and learning that can be replicated by others.
WorkCentres a deliver a new ethos based upon the following principles:
- Working collectively to share knowledge, ideas and experience in small workgroups
- Supporting others and offering to help
- Being proactive - asking for help and not being stuck
- Being successful every day in moving their workpieces forward - it's all about small steps.
Other WorkCentres in Action
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Our 9 key principles
COLLABORATIVE WORKING
Participants work collaboratively in groups to support and help each other to create their workpieces. They learn from each other, develop their personal and work skills, increase their confidence - and start to build their future in small steps. Individual learn a whole new way to develop their future - working together, sharing ideas and encouraging each other - in order to generate income, find work, create projects and develop workpieces based upon their strengths and interests.
BUILDING UPON STRENGHS
Work It Out! builds upon participant's strengths and interests - not perceived weaknesses or shortcomings. The process enables individuals to develop their career in line with their needs at that time - whether it is coming back to the workplace after taking time off for a family, trying to find a job, after redundancy, dealing with personal difficulties, etc.
PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE LEARNING
This is not a training programme where individuals sit and listen. Rather, from day one, individuals take responsibility for ensuring the success of everyone in the group. They learn not only by working on their own priorities but also by contributing to and supporting others. The priority is to ensure that no-one falls through the net or fails to achieve their aims.
SIX CORE VALUES
POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
The culture is one of can-do, enthusiasm and lots of energy.
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
Participants are encouraged to ask for help and not to be stuck. The group’s ethos is to support others and offering to help with practical support, advice, technical input, encouragement, etc.
CONFIDENCE TO DELIVER
Presentation skills, self-organisation, cultural competence, kindness and respect are all part of the values and behaviours to ensure personal effectiveness. Individual present their ideas from day one and learn to appreciate other perspectives. They support each other in making formal presentations, leading discussion groups, working on projects, etc.
OWNERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT
This is a bottom up, active engagement process that addresses participant needs, supports capacity building, delivers empowerment and promotes wealth creation. Most importantly Work It Out! gives people the opportunity to take control of their careers, to think and plan where they want to go and to start to make this real from day one of the programme.
RESULTS FOCUS
The focus is on small steps, each person doing something every day to move forward and build their future.
COLLABORATIVE WORKING
Participants work collaboratively in groups to support and help each other to create their workpieces. They learn from each other, develop their personal and work skills, increase their confidence - and start to build their future in small steps. Individual learn a whole new way to develop their future - working together, sharing ideas and encouraging each other - in order to generate income, find work, create projects and develop workpieces based upon their strengths and interests.
BUILDING UPON STRENGHS
Work It Out! builds upon participant's strengths and interests - not perceived weaknesses or shortcomings. The process enables individuals to develop their career in line with their needs at that time - whether it is coming back to the workplace after taking time off for a family, trying to find a job, after redundancy, dealing with personal difficulties, etc.
PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE LEARNING
This is not a training programme where individuals sit and listen. Rather, from day one, individuals take responsibility for ensuring the success of everyone in the group. They learn not only by working on their own priorities but also by contributing to and supporting others. The priority is to ensure that no-one falls through the net or fails to achieve their aims.
SIX CORE VALUES
- helping each other and working with others
- kindness and compassion
- empowering others – being positive and encouraging
- sharing our skills, experience and ideas
- being successful whatever that means to us
- being happy
POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
The culture is one of can-do, enthusiasm and lots of energy.
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
Participants are encouraged to ask for help and not to be stuck. The group’s ethos is to support others and offering to help with practical support, advice, technical input, encouragement, etc.
CONFIDENCE TO DELIVER
Presentation skills, self-organisation, cultural competence, kindness and respect are all part of the values and behaviours to ensure personal effectiveness. Individual present their ideas from day one and learn to appreciate other perspectives. They support each other in making formal presentations, leading discussion groups, working on projects, etc.
OWNERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT
This is a bottom up, active engagement process that addresses participant needs, supports capacity building, delivers empowerment and promotes wealth creation. Most importantly Work It Out! gives people the opportunity to take control of their careers, to think and plan where they want to go and to start to make this real from day one of the programme.
RESULTS FOCUS
The focus is on small steps, each person doing something every day to move forward and build their future.
Other WorkCentres in Action
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Setting up a WorkCentre?
WorkCentres are set-up and supported as a franchised training, learning and working facility. We work from a proven template which means that we are not continually reinventing the wheel. There is no set-up charge and no development costs — just a modest monthly support fee. Assistance with the creation of your local WorkCentres, along with staff training, all materials and ongoing support is provided through Diversiton - a non profit making body dedicated to inclusion and the promotion of opportunity for all. If you are looking to build community capacity, increase the efficiency of your organisation, support those in need or leverage the potential of under-employment in your area then please get in touch. Numbers, Progression & Capacity Building
Numbers 12 – 20 participants per intake. It is expected that each WorkCentre can cater for around 6 intakes per year – around 100 participants. This number can be increased by running parallel sessions with appropriate facilitators. Progression Participants will be actively involved as they develop their first workpieces. Everyone succeeds at their own pace. Most people have created successful workpieces within 6-8 weeks (often much more quickly). The accredited facilitator will be responsible for making sure that no one falls through the system or fails to achieve the positive outcomes they plan. Capacity building Some participants will become the Team Leaders and Mentors for future intakes. |
Support and Cost
What Support & Help is available to those setting up a WorkCentre?
- Initial advice on setting up the WorkCentre (e.g. location, facilities, recruitment of participants, etc.). - Support in the selection and training of the WorkCentre Facilitator(s). - Work It Out training modules, delivery plans and trainer materials. - Marketing plan and promotion materials to help find participants and establish your WorkCentre. - One day induction workshop with all WorkCentre participants. - Monthly sessions to review progress of participants. - Ongoing coaching and mentoring for facilitators. - Regular updates to promote linkages across WorkCentres. - Sharing of best practice and case studies promoting participant successes. Cost Every WorkCentre is different but as a guide the all-in support cost is incredible value at around £1,000 (€1,300) per month. If you are looking to build community capacity, increase the efficiency of your organisation, support those in need or leverage underemployment in your area then please get in touch. To discuss your Pilot please contact Des McCabe on 44 7717 203325 or email for more information - diversiton(at)gmail.com A Local Partnership
It is common for a range of potential funders and supporters to come together in an area to sponsor a local WorkCentre. We can deliver an information session if you wish to explore this option.
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