Design and deliver holistic and peer-led employment support with a Journey to Employment Job Club.
The Government’s Work, Health and Disability Green Paper publication announced the introduction of a new peer-led initiative for disabled people and those with a health condition who want to move closer or into employment known as the Journey to Employment(J2E) job clubs.
Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations and Voluntary Organisations in England, Scotland and Wales now have the opportunity to apply for funding to design and deliver a peer led job club, providing a holistic package of employment support tailored to meet the needs of individual participants. This will include building confidence as well as condition management in readiness for participants’ journey back to employment. Participants will be invited to attend on a voluntary basis.
Peer led sessions will be overseen by a Community Employment Specialist, recruited by the organisation delivering the job club. The Community Employment Specialist will use their lived experience of disability to support participants in both the job club and Jobcentre Plus. A total grant of £70,000 will be offered to organisations that successfully meet the funding criteria to deliver a Journey to Employment job club and employ the Community Employment Specialist.
Applications to deliver a Journey to Employment Job Club are open in six phases as follows:
- 21/11/2016-19/12/2016 Greater London, Chatham, Brighton, Southampton and Newcastle
- 12/12/2016-09/01/2017 North East England, South West England and Wales
- 03/01/2017-23/01/2017 North West England
- 09/01/2017-03/02/2017 Central England
- 16/01/2017-13/02/2017 Scotland
For more information on the above and to request an application form please email Journeyto.Employment@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or call 0207 449 5056. Organisations should also contact for applications in an alternative format.
