In 2001 Gateshead
and South Tyneside Jobcentreplus decided they wanted a new approach
to motivate and build confidence in the 18-24 New Deal client group.
We developed a full day workshop which informed participants about
New Deal and challenged negativity. The main objectives of the workshop
were to:
Gibber motivate people as individuals, raise self esteem and build
their confidence
to play a positive role in society.
• Motivate the participants and make them feel more positive
about themselves.
• Build confidence and raise self expectation.
• Empower the participants to take responsibility for themselves
their own futures.
• Explore how the participants can overcome their barriers to
employment.
• Challenge the participants negativity in a non-threatening
atmosphere.
• Provide a platform for the participants to air their own views
and opinions.
• Improve and analyse communication skills.
• Explain the process and highlight the benefits of New Deal.
We found that
one of the major barriers to clients on New Deal was a cynicism or
a lack of trust for Jobcentreplus. Many did not believe that New Deal
was there to help them and were not open to what it could offer. They
believed it was there to ‘get in their way’, an ‘inconvenience’
or ‘punishment’ for being long term unemployed. Using
interactive drama techniques we were able to challenge those perceptions
and paint a more realistic picture of what New Deal could offer.
At the beginning of each workshop every participant was asked to fill
out a questionnaire to find out how they felt about New Deal…
33%felt positive about being on New Deal. 41%felt that New Deal
would help them. 26%felt
they already knew a lot about New Deal. 35%were happy about being sent on this New Deal workshop.
At the end of
every workshop the participants were asked to fill out another questionnaire
to find out they had found the Gibber workshop and what they had learnt….
97% stated that Gibber had taught them about New Deal and what it
had-
to offer.
What
did you think of the
Gibber workshop?
How
do you think the Gibber workshop was run?
93% agreed that
Gibber was an enjoyable introduction to New Deal.
When the
Adult Learning Inspectorate assessed the Gibber workshop, as part
of the Gateshead and South Tyneside Gateway provision, Gibber were
awarded a grade one. The workshop was so successful that Gibber was
been awarded a second contract through till September 2005.
Comments from participants….
“Gibber
was funny – down to earth and supportive. I have fully enjoyed
my day. Cheers.”
“I don’t think New Deal could be explained
or delivered to people in a more enjoyable or better way than it
was. Really good!”
“I felt that the team were friendly and open.
I really enjoyed the day and it has given me a boost to get up and
get the job that I really want. I know that my advisor is there
to help me find a job.”
These results are taken from 106 workshops carried
out between December 2002 – December 2003.
